The state media regulator, Roskomnadzor, refuted on Friday allegations that it is intentionally slowing down download speeds on Telegram. This response came after users in Russia reported issues with the messaging service earlier that day.
A representative from Roskomnadzor informed the business publication Kommersant that no new restrictions had been imposed on Telegram, which directly contradicted earlier statements from State Duma representative Andrei Svintsov. Svintsov had claimed that Telegram had disregarded requests to remove inappropriate content.
“The management of the company is in communication with authorities, but their response time appears to be lacking,” stated Svintsov, who is the deputy chairman of the Committee on Information Policy, Technology, and Communications in the lower chamber of parliament. He spoke to the news outlet NSN earlier on Friday.
“For instance, there are still anonymous channels disseminating completely false information, and they haven’t been promptly blocked in Russia,” he added.
An unnamed source within the telecommunications industry also reported to media outlets in Moscow that the alleged slowdown in service was due to newly enacted government restrictions.
Telegram has yet to provide any comment on these reports.
In August, Roskomnadzor began imposing limitations on voice and video calls made through WhatsApp and Telegram, characterizing this as part of an anti-fraud initiative, which both companies criticized.
Svintsov mentioned on Friday that Russian authorities are still anticipating that Telegram will ban channels that “spread blatant lies and distorted information” regarding the war in Ukraine, as well as those sharing material “used to manipulate the stock market.”
He interpreted the recent reports of a slowdown as a “signal” for Telegram to enhance its content moderation practices.
“If the violations are addressed, the slowdown will cease,” Svintsov told NSN. “Everything must be rectified. I believe we should be the first nation to completely eliminate online anonymity.”
Last month, lawmakers in the State Duma suggested that Russia might block Telegram once the main pro-Kremlin channels have transitioned entirely to the government-supported messaging platform, Max.
Svintsov also indicated that WhatsApp could potentially be banned in Russia by the end of 2026.
