LONDON: WhatsApp on Tuesday criticised restrictions imposed on its service in Russia, accusing authorities of attempting to deny more than 100 million Russians access to private communication ahead of the holiday season.
The reaction came after Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, issued a renewed warning that the messaging platform could be fully blocked unless it complies with Russian laws governing online services.
“WhatsApp continues to violate Russian law,” Roskomnadzor said in comments carried by Russian state media. The regulator alleged that the platform is being used to organise terrorist activity, recruit perpetrators, and carry out fraud and other crimes against Russian citizens. It added that measures were underway to gradually restrict access to the service.
Following the warning, thousands of users across Russia reported outages and slower service on Tuesday, according to internet monitoring websites.
Tensions between Moscow and foreign technology companies have sharply escalated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Authorities have already blocked Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram, throttled the speed of Alphabet’s YouTube, and imposed hundreds of fines on tech platforms accused of violating Russian rules on content moderation and data storage.
Responding to the latest developments, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the restrictions threaten basic privacy rights. “In restricting access to WhatsApp, the Russian government aims to take away the right to private, end-to-end encrypted communication from over 100 million people, right before the holiday season in Russia,” the spokesperson said.
WhatsApp stressed that the app is deeply woven into daily life across the country, used by families, workplaces, schools, and local communities to stay connected across vast regions.
“We’re committed to fighting for our users because forcing people onto less secure and government-mandated apps can only lead to less safety for Russian people,” the spokesperson added.
The standoff highlights the widening digital divide between Russia and Western technology firms, as Moscow continues to tighten control over online platforms and digital communication.
