The service “disappearing messages” became the reason for a preventive measure in the form of arrest

Traditionally, when choosing a preventive measure, the severity of the crime in which a person is suspected is taken into account, as well as the likelihood that he will abscond and put pressure on witnesses. The investigation, which appeals to the court, increasingly began to use the wording that a person can prevent the establishment of the truth in the case, because he uses, quote, “conspiracy measures”. As an example, the investigative authorities indicate the use of anonymization software, network traffic encryption, messengers with support for an end-to-end encryption protocol with the function of autodestructing messages and hiding the contact list. According to the investigation, this confirms the argument about the possible influence of the suspects on unidentified persons.

In one case, the court chose a preventive measure in the form of arrest, referring to these arguments of the investigation, to a Moscow physician, who was suspected of justifying terrorism for a post four years ago. However, this is not the only case. Human rights activists suggest that the investigation will increasingly use as an argument the fact that the suspect resorted to “conspiracy methods” (as law enforcement agencies put it), as more people use VPN and the service “disappearing messages”.