Russia has blocked access to WhatsApp, citing the app’s alleged failure to comply with national legislation, following a similar restriction on Telegram earlier this year. Moscow has been encouraging users to switch to Max, a domestic messaging service that lacks end-to-end encryption and has raised privacy concerns among activists, who warn it could facilitate government surveillance.
WhatsApp, owned by US tech giant Meta, has over 100 million users in Russia and remains particularly popular among those aged 25 and older, while Telegram is more widely used by younger demographics. Russian authorities have claimed that both platforms facilitate criminal activity, and have demanded access to user data for law enforcement investigations, including cases involving fraud and activities Moscow classifies as “terrorist.”
Critics argue that the move is part of a broader effort by Russian authorities to tighten control over internet use and more closely monitor citizens’ online activity, reducing the availability of encrypted messaging options.
