Roskomnadzor Accuses Telegram of Enabling Black Market of Personal Data - The Moscow Times
Moscow Times
February 20, 2026
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Russia’s state media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has accused Telegram of failing to address third-party services that collect and sell personal data of Russian users. The agency claims the messaging app has created an infrastructure enabling access to stolen personal information, with up to 8,400 such services removed since 2022 but new ones continuing to emerge weekly. Roskomnadzor has demanded Telegram stop providing these platforms with digital tools to commit crimes and remove all data-harvesting services.
This comes amid escalating tensions between Telegram and Russian authorities. Earlier this month, a Moscow court fined Telegram $14,000 for failing to remove banned content, while the FSB security service accused founder Pavel Durov of prioritizing profits over user safety. Roskomnadzor has also imposed restrictions on Telegram, limiting access to voice notes, videos, and images, which critics say is part of a broader strategy to force users toward state-backed messaging apps like Max.
The allegations and restrictions raise concerns about digital privacy and freedom of expression in Russia. Critics argue that these measures are an attempt to suppress independent communication channels and promote government-controlled platforms for surveillance. The situation highlights the ongoing conflict between global messaging services and Russian authorities, which have targeted apps like WhatsApp as well.
For readers interested in global tech policies and digital rights, this matter underscores the challenges of balancing national security with individual privacy in a highly regulated internet environment. As Russia intensifies its crackdown on independent media and communication tools, the implications for users’ freedoms and data security remain significant.
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Originally published on Moscow Times on 2/20/2026