Russia has officially blocked WhatsApp, cutting off access to one of the country’s most widely used messaging platforms. The move affects more than 100 million users and marks a major step in Moscow’s ongoing crackdown on foreign digital services. Authorities are now encouraging people to switch to a state-backed alternative that offers fewer privacy protections.
The messaging app WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has been removed from Russia’s online directory, effectively making it restricted within the country’s internet infrastructure. Russian lawmakers had previously warned that WhatsApp could be banned as part of tighter regulations on foreign technology platforms. In July last year, a senior parliamentarian overseeing the IT sector publicly stated that the app was likely to be added to the list of restricted services in 2025.
Following the ban, authorities have urged users to migrate to Max, a locally developed messaging platform described as similar to China’s WeChat. However, unlike WhatsApp, Max does not offer end-to-end encryption, raising concerns among digital rights advocates.
Meta criticized the decision, saying the Russian government was attempting to push users toward what it described as a surveillance-based communication system. In a statement, the company warned that blocking WhatsApp would deprive millions of people of secure and private communication tools.
The ban on WhatsApp follows a series of similar actions. Earlier this week, authorities also removed Telegram from the country’s online directory. Meta’s other platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, have already been inaccessible for several years, with Meta designated as an extremist organization by Russian courts.
There are also reports that YouTube has been banned, although officials have not confirmed whether access has been fully blocked.
