Russia will ban calling on WhatsApp and Telegram, media personality Ksenia Sobchak says — Meduza (meduza.io)
from rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.works to world@lemmy.world on 12 Aug 20:43
https://sh.itjust.works/post/43961208

The Russian authorities have reportedly decided to ban the calling feature on WhatsApp and Telegram, well-connected media figure Ksenia Sobchak reported on Tuesday, citing sources in the telecommunications industry.

The decision “has already been made at the very top,” the sources reportedly said.

“They’ve banned calls ‘under the guise of fighting terrorists,’” one source told Sobchak’s Telegram channel. Final consultations on the issue are expected to wrap up this evening, according to a government source she cited.

Sobchak noted that the apps’ messaging and channel features will still remain accessible.

#world

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Maeve@kbin.earth on 12 Aug 21:43 next collapse

Good. No one should be using either.

undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch on 12 Aug 22:13 next collapse

But, …wait no, that’s true.

rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.works on 13 Aug 02:40 collapse

People should be using Signal, which is also blocked.

I’m now frantically trying to cook up some way to be able to call my family back there. A VPN is of course an option, but also illegal.

Maeve@kbin.earth on 13 Aug 02:45 collapse

Signal is US based and has to abide by US law.

rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.works on 13 Aug 02:49 collapse

I will assume that you are saying that people should not be using Signal based on this (e.g. the United States are sliding into fascism and may fuck over Signal).

What would you suggest then? PGP? Ngl I’m happy that GnuPG is introducing post-quantum encryption in the new releases but I’m talking about calling my grandma.

Maeve@kbin.earth on 13 Aug 02:55 collapse

I don't know yet what to recommend.

rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.works on 13 Aug 03:02 collapse

In this particular case literally all I want is to be able to talk to my family members without risking the FSB arresting them for calling the “Special Military Operation” a war in a phone call. If using WhatsApp for texting isn’t banned alongside phone calls, that is halfway okay for discussions of that nature, and I’ll have to watch my tongue if I call them over the Roskomnadzor-Approved ™ apps.

The trouble with those of course is that they don’t always work well with non-Russian phone numbers (because of course fucking everything needs my number nowadays). And you have to hope they’re not megaspyware. I am NOT downloading fucking MAX.

makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml on 12 Aug 21:49 next collapse

Can’t spy on the citizens. Banned.

Siegfried@lemmy.world on 12 Aug 22:26 next collapse

So… how should we read this? Did whatsapp made an agreement with russia and is now reading messages?

rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.works on 13 Aug 02:41 collapse

It means that making phone calls with either will likely soon become impossible for those with a Russian Internet connection.

A_norny_mousse@feddit.org on 13 Aug 07:26 collapse

Just a general plus one for Meduza!