Russia has reportedly tried to “completely block” WhatsApp in the country, amid efforts to promote domestic platforms and gain greater control over its internet space. A Meta spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday that the block was Russia’s attempt to drive users to a “state-owned surveillance app”. Meta Platform, which owns WhatsApp, said it was “continuing to do everything we can to keep users connected”.
Amidst the blocking effort, WhatsApp said it was “continuing to do everything we can to keep users connected”. (Photo by Reuters/Representative)Russia has been at loggerheads with foreign technology providers since the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Authorities in Moscow are promoting a state-backed app, ‘MAX’, which critics claim could be used to track users.
Russian state media, however, have dismissed allegations of surveillance through the app.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked if WhatsApp would return to Russia. In response, he told the TASS news agency, “It is again a question of fulfilling the law. If Meta Corporation fulfills it and enters into negotiations with the Russian authorities, then we have the possibility to reach an agreement.”
Peskov said that if Meta decided to take an “uncompromising position”, it would show that the company is not ready to align with Russian law. “Then there is no chance,” the Kremlin spokesman added.
An earlier report said Russian authorities had removed WhatsApp, which has about 100 million users, from an online directory run by state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor.
The Kremlin has not issued an official statement on the matter.
Russia began restricting some calls to WhatsApp and messaging app Telegram last year, accusing the platforms of refusing to share information with law enforcement about fraud and terrorism, Reuters reported.
Moscow also blocked Apple’s video calling app FaceTime in December last year.
Telegram’s Russian-born founder, Pavel Durov, previously said the platform remains committed to protecting its users’ freedom of speech and privacy rights.
