Secure messaging app Telegram can be forced to hand over encrypted chat data to Russia's notorious spy agency, the country's top court has decided.
Authorities then ordered Telegram to hand over encryption keys allowing access to chat history within 15 days or potentially face a ban.
The country's Supreme Court threw out an appeal lodged by the secure messaging app to resist demands from the Federal Security Service intelligence agency (FSB) to provide access to people's information.
Telegram argued that the FSB violated consumer rights when it demanded that social networks provide authorities with encryption keys and chat histories.
Authorities however said the app has been used by violent extremists.
Following the court ruling, Russia's communications regulator ruled that Telegram could be blocked in Russia if it does not comply with a 15-day deadline to provide the data.
Telegram lawyer Ramil Akhmetgaliev was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying the company considers it essential to "keep users' communications secret".
Additional reporting by Associated Press
