blockade Archives

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Zelensky Says Ukraine Targeting Kremlin-Backed Messaging App Max

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is working to penetrate Max, a messaging app backed by the Russian state, amid restrictions on platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp imposed by Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor. He noted that both Ukrainian and Russian intelligence agencies use Telegram for recruitment and influencing public perception regarding the conflict. Reports indicate access issues with Telegram in Russia, suggesting a possible government blockade ahead of a crackdown next month. Access to Max is limited to Russian citizens with domestic phone numbers and users from "friendly" countries, reflecting the government's control over information flow.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

World Day Against Cyber Censorship: RSF unveils new US room in its Minecraft Uncensored Library

The Uncensored Library has added a new room dedicated to the United States and updated content in sections for Egypt, Belarus, Russia, and Iran. The USA room includes analyses of press freedom and a political cartoon by Ann Telnaes that was rejected by the Washington Post. The library allows access to journalism from countries with censorship, using the Minecraft platform for broader reach. New articles include Elahe Mohammadi's piece on Evin Prison in Iran, two articles from MadaMasr in Egypt, over 20 articles from exiled Russian media, and six articles by exiled journalists in Belarus. The library has been visited by over one million users since its launch in 2020.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Russia confirms ban on WhatsApp messaging app

The Russian government has blocked WhatsApp due to its non-compliance with local regulations, affecting about 100 million users. Users are encouraged to switch to a domestic alternative called Max, which does not have end-to-end encryption. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that WhatsApp's refusal to comply with Russian law was a significant factor in the decision. WhatsApp's parent company, Meta, criticized the blockade as an attempt by the Russian government to eliminate access to secure communication and funnel users to a state-controlled app. Critics argue this move is part of a broader effort to control internet usage and suppress dissent in Russia. Additionally, Russia's internet watchdog plans to impose restrictions on the Telegram messaging platform for similar compliance issues.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Russia moves to block WhatsApp, pushes state-backed rival

Russia has announced steps to block WhatsApp, part of a broader initiative to control foreign technology while promoting its own messaging app, MAX. WhatsApp has about 100 million users in Russia and 3 billion globally, and has expressed commitment to keeping users connected amid these challenges. Russian regulators have also imposed restrictions on Meta's platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, as well as international media outlets. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Meta could resume operations in Russia if it complies with local laws. Russian authorities have removed WhatsApp from an online directory managed by communications regulator Roskomnadzor. Additionally, users of Telegram in Russia reported slow traffic and potential restrictions, with the app's founder asserting a commitment to freedom and privacy despite government pressure.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Russia blocks WhatsApp over Meta non-compliance, pushes state-backed MAX messenger

Russia has enacted a complete blockade of WhatsApp due to Meta Platforms' non-compliance with local regulations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the blockade and encouraged citizens to use MAX, a state-backed messaging service. Critics have raised concerns about MAX being a potential surveillance tool, which Russian officials deny. This blockade is part of a broader strategy for a "sovereign" communications infrastructure, requiring foreign tech companies to comply with Russian laws or face exclusion. WhatsApp has over 100 million users in Russia and has expressed concerns that the blockade jeopardizes user privacy and security. Following the blockade, several WhatsApp domain names have disappeared from Russia's national domain register, making the app accessible only via VPNs. Roskomnadzor has not commented, and previous restrictions on WhatsApp included limitations on calls and fines for not complying with Russian laws.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Russia Attempts To Fully Block Service of WhatsApp Amid Push for State Messaging App

Russia is implementing a nationwide blockade of WhatsApp as part of a strategy to promote a Kremlin-supported messaging alternative. The Russian government has removed WhatsApp from the national online directory, making it inaccessible without workarounds like VPNs, and users are experiencing widespread outages. Previously, Russia had limited WhatsApp’s calling features due to security concerns. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that WhatsApp's return depends on Meta's compliance with Russian law and willingness to engage with regulators. This initiative is part of a broader effort to create a "sovereign internet" and reduce reliance on foreign digital platforms.

AppWizard

February 11, 2026

Telegram is one of the last messaging apps in Russia that the state doesn’t control. Did the Kremlin just block it for good?

Telegram has experienced significant disruptions in Russia over the past two days due to interventions by the federal censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, which aims to “protect” citizens. Reports indicate that Russian authorities have initiated partial restrictions on Telegram, actively slowing the service. Telegram has faced multiple misdemeanor cases for not removing prohibited content, and Roskomnadzor has accused it of not complying with Russian legislation. For two consecutive days, users reported outages, with issues such as media files failing to load and messages not being sent or received. A poll revealed that about 21 percent of respondents experienced problems with the app, while 38 percent noted no issues, and 23 percent used a VPN to remain unaffected by restrictions. Over the past six months, Telegram and WhatsApp have faced numerous limitations from Roskomnadzor, including the blocking of audio and video calls. Reports in January 2026 indicated that Telegram was being deliberately slowed down, linking the restrictions to alleged legal violations. The Kremlin's actions to limit independent messaging platforms coincide with the promotion of Max, a state-controlled alternative, which has struggled to gain a comparable user base. Despite denials of plans to fully ban Telegram or WhatsApp, experts suggest that gradual tightening of restrictions may render these apps effectively unusable. The popularity of Telegram's channels may prevent a complete ban, as government officials continue to rely on the platform for communication.

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

WhatsApp Blocked in Russia: Messaging App Faces Crackdown

Roskomnadzor, Russia's communications regulator, plans to impose stricter restrictions on WhatsApp due to allegations of its use in activities that violate Russian law, such as organizing terrorist acts and fraud. WhatsApp has not met compliance standards, leading to extended limitations and the possibility of a complete ban if violations continue. Users have experienced a decline in call quality since August, prompting a recommendation to switch to domestic messaging apps. Andrey Svintsov, a deputy chairman in the State Duma, anticipates a potential shutdown of WhatsApp in Russia within four to six months, attributing restrictions to the app's owners' unwillingness to cooperate with Russian authorities and concerns over data security.

AppWizard

October 14, 2025

Google tried to kill this Pixel VoLTE-enabling app, but the developer already has a fix

In early 2023, a Korean developer launched the "Pixel IMS" app, enabling VoLTE and VoWiFi on unsupported carriers for Pixel users. A recent Google update in October 2025 disrupted this functionality by closing a loophole that allowed the app to access the overrideConfig API, resulting in the app crashing when users tried to toggle these features. The overrideConfig API is restricted to apps with the MODIFYPHONESTATE permission, typically reserved for privileged system applications. The Pixel IMS app had previously used Shizuku, an open-source tool, to gain elevated privileges and access the API. Google reclassified the loophole as a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability but did not include it in the latest security bulletin. The update added a check to the overrideConfig API, blocking access from the shell user. In response, the developer created a workaround that indirectly calls the API through an Instrumentation component, circumventing the restriction. However, this workaround is vulnerable to future patches from Google, which could remove the necessary permissions from the shell app.

TrendTechie

October 4, 2025

«Консультант-Плюс» начал войну на уничтожение с торрент-трекерами

Rostelecom has blocked two torrent trackers, underverse.su and darkos.club, which hosted databases of legal documents from "Consultant-Plus." This action was taken by Roskomnadzor in accordance with the "anti-piracy" law, allowing copyright holders to seek court orders for blocking infringing resources. The law was expanded in 2016 to include all content types, except photographs. Consultant-Plus, established in 1992, has developed a legal database with approximately 90 million regulatory acts. The "Garant" system also achieved a blockade against the torrent tracker pirat.ca in spring 2016. All three torrent trackers have been completely blocked by Roskomnadzor and recorded in the Register of Prohibited Sites. Typically, the law allows for blocking specific URLs, but in this case, the entire range of pages associated with the trackers has been rendered inaccessible. Darkos.club had previously faced a blockade under the domain dark-os.com due to the distribution of business automation software, leading to a "perpetual" blockade by the Moscow City Court after repeated infringements.