A collective of WhatsApp and Telegram users in Russia has initiated a class-action lawsuit against the state media regulator Roskomnadzor and the Ministry of Digital Development due to restrictions on calls via these messaging platforms, Russian media outlets reported on Tuesday.
The 42 complainants assert that these limitations infringe upon their constitutional rights, such as the freedom of information and the confidentiality of communications.
In August, Roskomnadzor implemented bans on voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Telegram as part of what it described as an initiative to combat fraud, a decision that both messaging services condemned.
In their legal action, the plaintiffs point to data from the Russian Central Bank which indicates that traditional mobile phone calls and SMS, rather than messaging applications, are the main avenues through which fraud occurs.
Neither Roskomnadzor nor the Ministry of Digital Development has responded to the lawsuit, which has been filed with the Tagansky District Court in Moscow.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, accused Roskomnadzor earlier on Tuesday of attempting to restrict private communication for over 100 million Russians in advance of the holiday season.
“We are determined to advocate for our users, as forcing them to use less secure, government-mandated applications can only jeopardize the safety of the Russian populace,” WhatsApp reportedly stated according to Reuters.
The company seemed to allude to Russia’s attempts to redirect users to Max, a government-supported messaging application that was launched earlier in 2025 and has faced criticism for its security vulnerabilities.
