russia Implements Access Restrictions on Signal Messaging App Amid Compliance Issues

Recent reports indicate that russia's communications regulator, roskomnadzor, has restricted access to the Signal app, known for its encryption capabilities. This decision, as relayed by Interfax news agency, is linked to alleged violations regarding anti-terrorism laws in the nation. The agency stated that the restriction on Signal is due to noncompliance with regulations set forth in russian terrorist law, which are intended to prevent messaging applications from being exploited for extremist purposes. Prior to this announcement, many users of Signal had reported various issues with the application. Data from internet service monitoring platforms revealed that over 1,500 complaints about Signal were lodged, predominantly from individuals in Moscow and St Petersburg. Interestingly, some users noted that they could still access the app seamlessly when utilizing a VPN or by employing its built-in censorship evasion feature. According to Mikhail Klimarev, the creator of the Telegram channel "For Telecom," this situation suggests a deliberate block of the app rather than a technical glitch on Signal's part. The company did not respond to requests for further clarification on the matter. Sources from moscow and krasnodar reported difficulties in creating new Signal accounts, with attempts resulting in a "Server Error" message when entering mobile numbers, except when using a VPN. Klimarev pointed out that this marks the initial effort to restrict Signal's operations within russia. This development follows a pattern seen with Telegram, which faced similar access issues starting in 2018. While these earlier measures disrupted various third-party services, they did not significantly limit Telegram's functionality in the country. #RussiaIsATerroristState

Mariana Rocha 12 Aug 2024