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By Ariz Riaz :
Russia has ordered a nationwide block on WhatsApp, as the Kremlin continues to impose stricter controls over foreign digital platforms.
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, said the move was intended to push more than 100 million Russian users towards a “state-controlled surveillance application”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that the decision was taken due to Meta’s failure to comply with Russian legislation. He added that WhatsApp could resume operations if it “complies with the law and enters into dialogue with authorities”.
Responding to questions about whether the government was attempting to force citizens to use the state-developed Max app, Peskov said the “national messenger is simply an available alternative” for Russian users.
Meanwhile, Russia’s internet watchdog Roskomnadzor said it was also tightening restrictions on Telegram, citing concerns over security. Telegram remains highly popular in Russia and is reportedly widely used by Russian military forces in Ukraine.
Pro-war bloggers have criticized the restrictions, saying they were disrupting communications on the battlefield.
Even before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian authorities had begun efforts to build a domestic alternative to the global internet. These efforts have accelerated during the war, alongside promotion of the state-backed Max platform.
Critics claim Max could be used by authorities for surveillance, though Russian state media have rejected those allegations. The app is now being heavily promoted through television advertisements, billboards and official campaigns.
Russian officials argue that both WhatsApp and Telegram have refused to store user data inside Russia, as required by national law. Authorities also claim WhatsApp is frequently used for fraud and financial scams, urging users to migrate to Max for “greater safety”.
In response, WhatsApp said it was committed to keeping people connected.
“Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and will only reduce safety for people in Russia,” the company said in a statement.
State-run news agency TASS earlier reported that WhatsApp could face a permanent ban in Russia by 2026.
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