Russia Targets WhatsApp in Growing Battle With Foreign Tech Giants

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The criticism came after Russia’s communications watchdog repeated its warning that WhatsApp could be fully blocked unless it complies with Russian laws governing digital services.Roskomnadzor, the regulator, told state media that WhatsApp continues to violate national legislation, claiming the platform is being used to organize terrorist activities, recruit perpetrators, and carry out fraud and other crimes. As a result, it said authorities were gradually restricting the service. Monitoring sites showed that thousands of users reported outages and slower connections on Tuesday.

Tensions between Russia and foreign technology companies have escalated since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. During this period, Russia blocked Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, slowed access to Alphabet’s YouTube, and issued hundreds of fines against platforms accused of breaching content and data storage regulations.

A WhatsApp spokesperson said the restrictions are aimed at stripping millions of Russians of their right to secure, end-to-end encrypted communication. The company emphasized that WhatsApp plays a vital role in daily life across the country, connecting families, workplaces, parents, and local communities. It warned that forcing users onto government-approved platforms could reduce safety and privacy for citizens.

In August, Russian authorities began limiting certain WhatsApp and Telegram calls, accusing the foreign-owned apps of failing to cooperate with law enforcement in cases involving terrorism and fraud. At the same time, the government has been promoting a state-backed messaging app called MAX, which critics argue could enable user surveillance.

Russian officials have rejected those claims, insisting that MAX is designed to improve daily life by integrating various government services into a single platform.

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