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Media watchdog urges Russians to switch to domestic alternatives to Zoom

Earlier, Kommersant daily reported that Zoom Video Communications had prohibited its distributors from selling its online conference services to government agencies and state-owned firms in Russia and former Soviet countries

© Donat Sorokin/TASS

MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/. The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) recommended that Russian users switch to domestic alternatives to Zoom video communication app, the press service of the regulator told TASS on Thursday.

"Although the American company Zoom Video Communications has not officially confirmed the refusal to serve clients in Russia, the use of foreign services by our companies and government agencies will always carry the risk of refusal of service by administrations of foreign platforms and the risk of leaks of our citizens data due to their [those companies’] fault," the watchdog said.

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Zoom seeks to evolve approach to CIS countries

"We recommend that Russian users switch more actively to the use of domestic software," the watchdog noted.

It recalled that there is a number of domestic videoconferencing platforms, which are widely used in Russia.

Earlier, Kommersant daily reported that Zoom Video Communications had prohibited its distributors from selling its online conference services to government agencies and state-owned firms in Russia and former Soviet countries. The newspaper cited a letter by RightConf, Zoom’s distributor in Russia and the CIS, to its partners dated March 31.

According to the letter, Zoom Video Communications Inc. is revoking its Russian partner's authorization to sell services to state agencies and companies with government beneficiaries. Reports say that RightConf CEO Andrei Petrenko, confirmed the authenticity of the letter to Kommersant. He also specified that the restrictions apply not only to Russia, but also to CIS countries. That said, Petrenko said that his company would continue working according to existing contracts. A spokesperson of Zoom Video Communications told TASS that the company "continues to be committed to serving customers in the Russian market and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and is in the process of evolving our approach in the region.

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Lavrov says Borrell let it slip that Europe ‘fighting against Russia’

Russia’s top diplomat noted that Josep Borrell may made the statement in a moment of weakness

West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

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CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

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Hungarians in western Ukraine should get their rights back, Budapest says

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Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

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Ukrainian drones continue to fly over Zaporozhye NPP — press service

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Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

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US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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Iran suspends flights above several cities amid reports of air attack — IRNA

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Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

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Russian Cabinet expands list of perfumery, cosmetic products subjected to import duty

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Russia ready for Ukraine talks, but not with Zelensky — Lavrov

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

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French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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Press review: Biden backs aid to Israel, Ukraine and Russia assets giving West legal fits

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

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Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

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Russian defense chief checks implementation of orders to develop drones

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Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

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Global economy’s condition improving — Russian Deputy PM

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US volunteer Russel Bentley missing in Donetsk killed — RT editor-in-chief

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BRICS’ expansion makes it much stronger — senior Russian diplomat

Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia, became full-fledged members of BRICS from January 1, 2024

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Senior Chinese official to take part in conference on security in Russia — diplomat

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