Telegram was banned in Russia but users found a way to use it for another 2 years

The Russian authorities wanted access to the encrypted messages of Telegram, failing which the app would face a ban in the country. However, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov did not comply with the authorities, and users could access the app despite the ban from 2018-2020.

WhatsApp's ongoing fight to resist the traceability clause as part of IT rules 2021 and Telegram's ban from Russia three years back have one thing in common -- authorities directing the messaging apps to give them the details of the originator of a message which requires breaking encryption. Telegram was banned by the Russian authorities in 2018 for two years, after which the ban was lifted in 2020. The Russian authorities wanted access to the encrypted messages of Telegram, failing which the app would face a ban in the country. However, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov did not comply with the authorities. Even though Telegram faced a ban in the country, its users in Russia still had access to the app.