InfoSecBulletin Cybersecurity for mankind
Russia has attempted to completely block WhatsApp, according to the company. This is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to tighten internet control.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said late Wednesday that the Russian authorities’ action was intended to “drive users to a state-owned surveillance app,” a reference to Russia’s own state-supported MAX messaging app that’s seen by critics as a surveillance tool.
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“Trying to isolate over 100 million people from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia,” the WhatsApp spokesperson said. “We continue to do everything we can to keep people connected.”
State-run news agency Tass reported earlier this year that WhatsApp was expected to be permanently blocked in the country in 2026.
Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has blocked major social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and increased online restrictions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that the decision had been made “due to [Meta’s] unwillingness to comply with the norms and the letter of Russian law”. He has said Meta could resume operations if it “complies with [the law] and enters into dialogue”.
Asked whether authorities were trying to force Russians to use the state-developed Max app, Peskov said the “national messenger [is an] available alternative” for Russians.
Telegram continues to function normally despite the announcement. Experts suggest it’s harder to target than WhatsApp. Some Russian specialists believe that blocking WhatsApp would let authorities concentrate their efforts on Telegram, which is their main target.
Russian authorities have restricted YouTube and increasingly limited popular messaging apps, blocking Signal and Viber, and banning online calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. In December, they also restricted Apple’s FaceTime.
While it’s still possible to circumvent some of the restrictions by using virtual private network services, many of them are routinely blocked, too.
Authorities promoted the “national” messaging app MAX, which critics fear could enable surveillance. Developers and officials market it as a comprehensive platform for messaging, government services, and payments, but it admits to sharing user data with authorities on request. Additionally, experts note that it lacks end-to-end encryption.
