Roskomnadzor is trying to block a mobile radio station Zello / Geektimes

Today Roskomnadzor announced that the developers of Zello (a very convenient push-to-talk radio set – faster than voice calls with encryption) did not provide information for inclusion In the register of information dissemination organizers is a mandatory requirement for wiretapping users’ conversations by law enforcement agencies.

Zello Inc. Not only ignored the requirements of the supervisory authority, but also wrote about it in her blog, and also published a letter received from Roskomnadzor.

“The requirements of Article 10.1 of the Law 149-FZ are not only absurd from a technical point of view, But also contradict the principles of Zello, so we will not implement them. The formal reason for the adoption of this law was the fight against terrorism, but in fact it can be used to selectively block out any unwanted Internet service. Earlier, with reference to this law, the social network Linkedin was blocked, another goal – Zello, tomorrow may be blocked by Twitter, Facebook or Telegram, “the company explained in the official blog.

Roskomnadzor had no choice. April 10, 2017 initiated the procedure for restricting access to information systems of Zello Inc. All providers are required to comply with the regulator’s requirement.

The developers of Zello explained that Article 10.1 of the Law 149-FZ establishes a number of impossible conditions for “organizers of information dissemination on the Internet,” and under this “intentionally broad concept” are all social networks, messengers, e-mail providers and even Internet forums. In accordance with the law, operators are obliged:

1. Notify Roskomnadzor of the beginning of activities by entering service into a special register
2. Store logs of any exchange of messages between users, and also information about these users during 1 year in the territory of the Russian Federation and provide it at the request of law enforcement agencies
3. Keep a copy of all (including voice) messages of users during 6 months on the territory of the Russian Federation and provide them at the request of law enforcement agencies
4. Provide the ability to listen to messages
5. Provide the law enforcement authorities with the encryption keys necessary to decode any messages

Zello is unable to fulfill the requirements of the regulator and is not going to meet for reasons of principle. The company recommends that users download the latest version of the application for the PC, from the App Store or Google Play and install one of the applications to create a VPN on the phone. Zello’s work should continue in normal mode after blocking.

Zello channel administrators recommend creating a Zello channel mirror in Telegram or Discord and inviting users there.

Perhaps this is the first precedent when authorities blocked the messenger , Working on VPN . Let’s see how events will develop. Perhaps in the future the story will repeat with Telegram, and now there is a kind of “test battle”.

The number of active users of the free Zello application in Russia, according to the company, exceeds 400 thousand people. It is used for mutual assistance of drivers on the roads, search and rescue operations, taxi services, to help citizens to law enforcement bodies, organizing peaceful protests, discussing socially important topics, searching for friends and communication.

Zello users and all those who disagree with Blocking request to send a complaint to Roskomnadzor.