Russia has blocked messaging service WhatsApp over alleged legal breaches, in what is widely seen as a bid to clamp down on free speech amid the war in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced the decision, attributing it to WhatsApp’s “reluctance to comply with the norms and letter of Russian law.”
Earlier, WhatsApp put out a statement saying the Russian government had “attempted to fully block WhatsApp.” WhatsApp described it as 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. We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected.”
Whatsapp
The news comes days after it emerged that Russian authorities were restricting access to Telegram, another instant messaging app that is used by millions of people in Russia, including the military, top-level public officials, state media services and government bodies, such as the Kremlin and Roskomnadzor, the communications regulator.
On Tuesday, the Russian government said that it was restricting access to Telegram for the “protection of Russian citizens,” accusing the app of refusing to block content authorities consider “criminal and terrorist.”
The app’s Russian-born founder Pavel Durov said in a statement that day that Russia’s attempts to restrict Telegram would fail, writing that “Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure.”
Last year, Russia began limiting some calls on WhatsApp, owned by US social media giant Meta, and on Telegram, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of refusing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and “terrorism” cases.
However, rights campaigners like Amnesty, which this week hit out at the Kremlin’s continued limits on Telegram, say restrictions on messaging apps are a transparent attempt to ramp up control and surveillance.
The group in a statement on Tuesday, “As usual, Russian authorities are resorting to the bluntest instrument in their digital repression toolbox: censorship and obstruction under the guise of protecting people’s rights and interests.”
The blocking of WhatsApp comes amid an ongoing pattern of tighter control over foreign technology platforms operating in Russia.
In recent years, the country has introduced measures aimed at increasing what it describes as digital sovereignty, including data localization requirements and pressure on international companies to comply with Russian laws.
The confirmation of the WhatsApp ban fits within this broader context of strengthening state influence over online communication channels.
Russia Points Users To Max
Kremlin Spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov advised Russians to turn instead to MAX, a state-sponsored platform touted as a one-stop shop for messaging, online government services and other services like making payments.
“Max is an affordable alternative on the market for citizens, a developing national messenger. Regarding the blocking of WhatsApp, our authorities did indeed state that the decision was made and implemented due to the corporation’s unwillingness to comply with the law.”
Dmitry Peskov
Max is a homegrown messenger that Russia is pre-installing on all new devices as part of a broader push to replace foreign platforms.
Similarly to China’s WeChat, it is designed as an all-in-one super-app combining messaging, calls, payments and other services, allowing users to authenticate their identity for government platforms that provide public services.
Experts warn that MAX, which openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request, does not use the end-to-end encryption that ensures messages remain private on popular services like WhatsApp, leaving users vulnerable to state snooping.
Beyond the clampdown on messaging apps, Russia’s government has also blocked social media like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram while ramping up restrictions on services like YouTube. In December, it imposed restrictions on Apple’s video calling service FaceTime.
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