MOSCOW – Russia on Saturday warned that it may impose a complete ban on WhatsApp, accusing the globally used messaging platform of failing to curb criminal activity and urging citizens to shift to a state-backed alternative.
The international media reported that the Russian authorities reiterated that WhatsApp has not been effective in preventing crimes carried out through the app. The officials advised citizens to migrate to a domestic messaging service instead.
In a fresh statement, Russia’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor said that WhatsApp would be fully blocked if it does not comply with Russian laws. The warning comes months after Moscow restricted WhatsApp voice calls in August as part of a broader crackdown on foreign digital services.
Roskomnadzor encouraged Russian users to switch to MAX, a government-supported messaging application linked to state services. Unlike WhatsApp, the MAX app does not offer end-to-end encryption, a feature that privacy advocates consider essential for secure communication.
Meta, the US-based parent company of WhatsApp, stated that Russia is seeking to restrict the platform because the company refuses to share protected user communication data with Russian authorities.
Telegram and WhatsApp are among the most popular messaging services in Russia. However, the government maintains that both platforms must grant law-enforcement agencies access to user data when required for investigations into terrorism and financial fraud.
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