Russia has reportedly attempted to fully block WhatsApp, as authorities intensify efforts to tighten control over digital communications and steer users toward a state-developed messaging platform.

Meta-owned WhatsApp said the move appears designed to force its more than 100 million users in Russia onto a “state-owned surveillance app.” The company warned that isolating millions from private communication tools would undermine online safety.

“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,” WhatsApp said in a statement, adding that it was doing everything possible to keep people connected.

The Kremlin defended Its stance, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Meta could resume operations if it complies with Russian law and engages in dialogue. However, he suggested the company “stands no chance” if it refuses.

Russia’s internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, has also tightened restrictions on Telegram, another widely used messaging platform. Authorities cited security concerns and alleged non-compliance with laws requiring companies to store Russian users’ data on servers within the country.

Telegram is particularly popular in Russia and is widely used by both civilians and military personnel, including Russian forces in Ukraine. Pro-war bloggers have complained that restrictions on Telegram have disrupted communication on the ground.

State news agency Tass reported earlier this year that WhatsApp could face a permanent block in Russia by 2026. Russian official Andrei Svintsov has said such measures are “absolutely justified,” noting that Meta was designated an extremist organisation by Moscow in 2022. Since then, Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have been blocked and are accessible only through virtual private networks (VPNs).

Digital rights group Na Svyazi (In Touch) says the government has increasingly removed websites from the National System of Domain Names (NSDI), effectively cutting off access without a VPN. According to the group, 13 prominent online resources — including YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp Web, Instagram, the BBC and Deutsche Welle — have been removed from the registry.

At the same time, Moscow has been promoting a state-developed “super app” called Max, which combines messaging with government services. Critics argue that the platform lacks end-to-end encryption, making it vulnerable to state monitoring.

Since 2025, authorities have required Max to be pre-installed on all new devices sold in Russia, while public sector employees, teachers and students have been mandated to use it.

Telegram’s chief executive, Pavel Durov, has accused the Russian government of restricting access to independent platforms in an effort to push citizens toward a state-controlled alternative for surveillance and political censorship. Drawing parallels with Iran’s failed attempt to replace Telegram with a state-run app, Durov warned that limiting digital freedoms would not succeed in silencing users.

“Restricting citizens’ freedom is never the right answer,” he said.

The developments mark the latest phase in Russia’s expanding control over its digital space, as the Kremlin moves to consolidate oversight of online communications amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. (AriseNews TV)

Update news