- Russia’s communications regulator threatens a full block of WhatsApp
- The move is part of a wider crackdown on internet freedom
- WhatsApp has an estimated 97 million users in Russia
Russia has escalated its crackdown on internet freedom, with the country’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, threatening a complete ban on the popular messaging service WhatsApp.
As reported by the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, the agency has accused the Meta-owned platform of being used to “organize and carry out terrorist activities” and of failing to comply with Russian law.
This is the latest in a series of moves by the Kremlin to control the flow of information within its borders, a trend that has escalated since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
While gradual restrictions have already been implemented against WhatsApp for months, including blocking voice calls since August, a complete ban would be a major blow to digital communication in the country. This in an environment where the use of the best VPN apps is also increasingly restricted.
The estimated 97 million WhatsApp users in Russia would effectively be deprived of their ability to communicate freely and securely, hindering both privacy and business operations. With Signal already blocked since 2024, users could be pushed toward state-controlled alternatives like the new MAX app, which experts warn has “tremendous surveillance potential.”
WhatsApp has so far resisted the Russian government’s demands, vowing to “continue to do everything we can to make encrypted end-to-end communications available to people everywhere, including in Russia” — Pakinomist reported. The company has framed the issue as a defense of the “right to secure communications,” a position that puts it in direct opposition to the Kremlin’s increasingly tight control over the digital sphere.
Russia’s Growing Digital Censorship
The threat against WhatsApp is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a broader, more systematic effort by the Russian government to silence dissent and control the online landscape.
It comes as Russia also designated Human Rights Watch as an “undesirable” organization, effectively banning their work in the country. This designation is part of a wider trend to brand any group that criticizes the government as a threat to state security.
Since September, the Russian government has also forced smartphone makers to pre-install its own state-backed messenger app, MAX, raising concerns about surveillance.
The government has also recently introduced a bill that would require telecoms operators to suspend services at the request of the FSB, further strengthening state control over communications channels.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
