In a major escalation of its digital crackdown, Russia on Monday blocked the popular messaging platform WhatsApp across the country, citing efforts to steer users toward domestically developed alternatives. The move comes just days after Telegram Messenger was targeted by Russia’s internet watchdog, Roskomnadzor, over alleged legal violations.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, swiftly condemned the blockade. In a statement posted on X, the platform warned that the decision would effectively isolate more than 100 million Russian users.
“Today the Russian government attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app. Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia,” the company said. “We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected.”
The ban follows recent warnings from Moscow to several international internet platforms, threatening slowdowns or outright blocks if they fail to comply with Russian legislation. The laws in question require foreign tech companies to store Russian users’ personal data on servers within the country, and to remove content that authorities classify as “criminal or terrorist.”
Critics and human rights groups argue that the latest restrictions are part of a broader Kremlin strategy to tighten its grip on digital spaces and suppress dissent.
Telegram Founder Hits Back
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, who holds French and Emirati citizenship in addition to his Russian passport, spoke out against the restrictions. In a post on his Telegram channel, Durov accused the government of attempting to “force its citizens to move to a state-controlled app designed for surveillance and political censorship.”
Durov, who lives abroad, has long been a vocal opponent of Russia’s internet policies. His platform was previously subject to a ban in 2018, though the block proved ineffective and was eventually lifted in 2020. Telegram remains widely used across Russia despite those earlier attempts to suppress it.
Roskomnadzor, for its part, declined to offer specific details on the enforcement of the WhatsApp block, saying only that it would implement “phased restrictions” on the app.
Russia Pushes ‘Max’ App
As international platforms face mounting pressure, Moscow is actively promoting a homegrown alternative called Max. The app, which is backed by the state, offers a suite of services including messaging, digital payments, and access to government portals. Authorities are framing the platform as a secure, fully compliant option for Russian citizens.
Observers see the move as part of a longer-term effort to consolidate digital communication under state oversight. With WhatsApp and other Western platforms increasingly viewed with suspicion by the Kremlin, the promotion of Max signals a pivot toward a more controlled and surveilled internet ecosystem.
As the situation develops, the effectiveness of the latest ban remains uncertain. Past attempts to block platforms like Telegram have been met with widespread workarounds and only partial success. However, the coordinated timing and political weight behind the current measures suggest this may be Russia’s most determined push yet to reshape its digital landscape.
Leave Your Comment