A Moscow Court Suspends a Lawsuit on Restrictions in WhatsApp and Telegram
A court in the Russian capital has decided to suspend the process of an administrative lawsuit filed by several citizens. These plaintiffs were suing Roskomnadzor, the communications regulator, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. The legal objective was to declare illegal the limitations affecting calls in messaging applications. 📞⚖️
The Legal Basis of the Conflict over the Limitations
The lawsuit aimed to challenge the partial restrictions that Russian authorities apply to WhatsApp, from Meta, and Telegram, founded by Pavel Durov. The government entities defend that these measures are essential to combat telephone fraud. They assure that they will lift the limitations if the platforms fully comply with local legislation on communications and data security.
Key Points of the Government Stance:- The restrictions are a tool to fight fraud.
- The condition for removing them is that the apps comply with Russian law.
- The case focuses on the regulatory non-compliance by the tech companies.
The court argues that the main plaintiff failed to demonstrate authorization to act on behalf of all users of these services.
A Ruling Based on a Procedural Technicality
The judicial decision did not examine the merits of the case, that is, whether the restrictions are legal or not. Instead, it was based on a formal defect. The judge determined that valid accreditation of representation for all affected users was not provided, a fundamental requirement for such a lawsuit to proceed. This leaves the legal challenge in a temporary deadlock.
Immediate Consequences of the Suspension:- The judicial process is halted without evaluating the legality of the restrictions.
- Users continue to experience intermittent calls on these platforms.
- It underscores the importance of legal formalities in the Russian system.
A Digital Limbo for Users
The situation creates an operational limbo for millions of people. While the case is suspended due to a technicality, the partial restrictions continue. Users navigate between connections that sometimes work and sometimes don't, caught between the application of the rule and the reality of digital communication. The episode reflects how bureaucratic procedures can stall the resolution of problems that directly affect citizens. 🔄📱