The Russian authorities are considering the possibility of banning calls from 'unfriendly countries' on their territory. This may become part of a strategy to combat phone and internet fraud. For example, already this summer, the authorities began blocking calls through popular apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram, which caused connection issues in FaceTime. Due to these restrictions, Russians may be cut off from communication with other countries and limited in access to online services.
The Russian authorities classify 47 states and territories as 'unfriendly' countries, including the European Union, the USA, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and Ukraine. Additionally, the government plans to strengthen control over the internet by granting expanded powers to Roskomnadzor to block websites and the possibility of disconnecting the Russian internet from the global network. Such actions could lead to restrictions on access to important online services for local residents and deepen the digital divide with the rest of the world.