R ussia's state communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has blocked the encrypted messaging app Signal for allegedly violating laws related to anti-terrorist operations. According to Interfax, the agency stated that the app failed to comply with regulations designed to prevent its use for terrorist and extremist purposes.
Before the official announcement, hundreds of Signal users in Russia, particularly in Moscow and St. Petersburg, reported issues with the app. While the app continued to function normally through VPNs or censorship bypass modes, it was impossible to register new accounts without a VPN, with users encountering "Server Error" messages.
Mikhail Klimarev, a telecom expert, confirmed that the issue was not technical but a deliberate attempt by Russian authorities to block the app. This marks the first known attempt to block Signal in Russia, reminiscent of previous efforts to restrict access to other messaging platforms like Telegram. Signal has not commented on the situation.
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