Russian Bloggers Required to Transfer Administrative Rights of Telegram Channels to Government Authorities
In Russia, this procedure has become part of a broader system of controlling information activities on social media platforms.
According to recent regulations, bloggers managing Telegram channels with an audience exceeding 10,000 subscribers are now obligated to grant access rights to government authorities.
This is a prerequisite for registering their channels in the state registry of “permitted” platforms, reports The Moscow Times.
Officials have stated that to complete registration, channel owners must activate a specialized bot, developed by the Federal Information Technology Service, through the government services portal, and provide it with administrative rights.
This move aims to confirm ownership rights, as there are no alternative methods of verification within this social network.
Failure to launch the bot or grant it the necessary privileges will result in the government refusing to include the channel in the registry.
Back in April, deputy chairman of the State Duma’s informational policy committee, Anton Gorelkin, announced plans to introduce a new channel tagging system on Telegram, involving transferring administrative rights to a government-controlled bot.
Additionally, bloggers will need to submit contact details of all administrators and owners for verification.
After successful registration, the bot will send a request for an additional validation process via Telegram messaging, and only after approval will the channel receive an official “A+” status.
There are concerns that granting such rights could give the authorities access to subscriber lists, enable editing of channel descriptions, posting or editing messages, and adding new administrators or members.
Since November 1, 2024, a law has come into force requiring bloggers with over 10,000 followers to undergo state registration.
Without it, they are prohibited from posting advertisements or soliciting financial support.
Furthermore, starting September 2025, Russia mandated the pre-installation of a state messenger app, MAX, on all new smartphones and tablets sold in the country, claiming to enhance digital security, though critics argue it is a tool for increased governmental control over users.