Russia Attempts to Fully Cut Off WhatsApp, Pushes Domestic App

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Moscow : Russian authorities have taken a major step toward blocking WhatsApp, the widely used messaging service owned by Meta Platforms, as part of a broader effort to tighten control over digital communications in the country. WhatsApp said on Wednesday that the government has tried to fully block access, a move it described as an attempt to push users toward a state-backed platform.

Meta’s WhatsApp has warned that this action could affect more than 100 million users in Russia, where the app remains one of the most popular communication tools despite earlier restrictions on some of its features. Company representatives said the block appears aimed at driving users away from encrypted private messaging and onto a domestic alternative backed by the Kremlin.

The state-run internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, has now removed WhatsApp from its official online directory and intensified overall restrictions on foreign tech platforms. Other Meta services including Facebook and Instagram are already blocked in the country and accessible mainly through virtual private networks.

Moscow is promoting its own messaging service, known as Max, which critics say could allow greater government surveillance and lacks the strong encryption that WhatsApp offers. The authorities have also tightened limits on Telegram, another top messaging app, arguing regulatory non-compliance, and have faced public criticism even from pro-Kremlin voices.

Russian officials have tied access to WhatsApp’s return to compliance with local laws, including data storage and cooperation with authorities. Kremlin spokespersons have signaled that if Meta doesn’t align with these requirements, restrictions will remain, though they have left open the possibility of future negotiation.

Rights groups and privacy advocates have denounced the move, saying it represents another blow to online freedom and secure communication for everyday users in Russia. They argue that steering citizens toward a state-controlled app undermines privacy protections and broadens government oversight of electronic communications.