Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an effort to drive users towards its state-sponsored messaging app, Max, a spokesperson for Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, has said. The move is seen as part of the Kremlin’s push for a ‘sovereign internet’ isolated from Western technology and more susceptible to state oversight.
The company declined to provide specific details on the extent of the blocking attempt or the methods used. A WhatsApp spokesperson called the action a “backwards step”, stating: “Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia.” WhatsApp reportedly has at least 100 million users in the country, making it the most widely used messaging service.
The latest clampdown follows a broader crackdown on social media, including recent restrictions on Telegram, another popular app used by over 60 million Russians daily. Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, criticised the restrictions, saying: “Restricting citizens’ freedom is never the right answer.” The backlash has come from frontline troops, pro-war bloggers, and exiled opposition figures.
State-sponsored app Max, largely modelled on China’s WeChat, has approximately 55 million users in Russia. Last August, Russia mandated that Max be pre-installed on new phones, raising concerns among critics about potential surveillance, which state media has dismissed as false. Previously, Russian authorities removed WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram from a government directory, and blocked Snapchat and FaceTime.
When asked about WhatsApp's potential return, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that if Meta complies with Russian legislation and engages in dialogue, an agreement is possible. However, he added that if Meta remains uncompromising, “there is no chance”.
