Frustration grows as Russia restricts Telegram (apnews.com)
'Mindful of a crackdown on dissent since the 4-year-old invasion of Ukraine, activists decided not to risk holding unauthorized rallies, even if they weren't about the war. Some went to court to challenge government refusals to authorize pickets, while others scaled them back to smaller indoor gatherings.'
'Restricting Telegram is Russia's latest move to put the internet under government control. Thousands of websites and platforms are blocked, as are multiple virtual private networks that allow users to circumvent censorship. Widespread cellphone internet shutdowns leave only a handful of government-approved websites available.'
'Authorities encourage users to switch to MAX, a government-backed messaging app that critics say is a state surveillance tool.'
75% of Russians use Telegram, less than use WhatsApp.