Moscow (Agencies): Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor (RKN), has blocked access to the popular messaging app Viber, accusing it of violating anti-terrorism laws and facilitating scams. The app, which has 17 million daily users in Russia, was also accused of failing to remove illegal content.
Roskomnadzor stated that Viber did not comply with laws aimed at curbing terrorism, drug trafficking, and the spread of unlawful information. The regulator noted that Viber’s operators failed to remove content related to “terrorist and extremist” crimes.
Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma’s information policy committee, criticized Viber for ignoring Russian legal obligations, including non-payment of fines totaling 1.8 million rubles ($17,230). He further claimed the app could be exploited by “foreign intelligence services” for espionage.
The ban is part of Moscow’s broader effort to regulate foreign tech platforms. Authorities have previously blocked X (formerly Twitter) and declared Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, an “extremist organization” for hosting unlawful content. Viber now joins this list of restricted platforms.
Critics have also raised concerns about Viber’s role in facilitating scams. Elina Sidorenko, head of the NGO ‘Bely Internet’ (White Internet), claimed that Russians lost 5 billion rubles ($47.8 million) to Viber-related fraud, blaming the app for failing to protect its users.
Viber, founded in 2010 by Russian emigrant Igor Magazinnik and Israeli-American entrepreneur Talmon Marco, was acquired by Japanese tech firm Rakuten in 2014. Despite its global popularity, its blocking in Russia underscores the increasing pressure on foreign tech firms to comply with Russian internet laws.
The ban on Viber has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters argue it strengthens national security and protects users from fraud, while critics see it as part of a broader crackdown on dissent and access to global communication platforms. Viber’s parent company Rakuten has not issued a formal response to the ban.