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WhatsApp expressed strong opposition to new restrictions imposed on its services in Russia on Tuesday, accusing authorities of attempting to deny over 100 million Russians their right to private communication ahead of the holiday season. The company’s statement came after Russia’s communications regulator issued a repeated warning that it would completely block WhatsApp if it did not meet its demands to align with Russian laws.
Roskomnadzor, the regulator, alleged that WhatsApp violates Russian law by being used to organize terrorist activities, recruit perpetrators, and conduct fraud and other crimes against citizens. As a result, measures are being taken to gradually restrict access to WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta Platforms. Monitoring websites reported thousands of complaints from Russians about outages and slow connections on Tuesday.
The ongoing conflict with international tech companies escalated after Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leading to the blocking of Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, slowed YouTube speeds, and numerous fines for platforms that didn’t comply with Russian content and data storage regulations.
A WhatsApp spokesperson stated, “By restricting access to WhatsApp, the Russian government aims to strip over 100 million people of their right to private, end-to-end encrypted communication just before the holiday season.” They emphasized that WhatsApp is deeply integrated into Russian communities, including parent, work, friendship, neighborhood, and extended family groups. The company pledged to defend its users, warning that pushing users onto less secure, government-mandated apps can jeopardize their safety.
In August, Russia began limiting some calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing these foreign platforms of refusing to share information with law enforcement in cases of suspected fraud and terrorism. The country continues to restrict or block social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, while promoting a state-backed messaging app called MAX, which critics fear could be used for user surveillance. Russian officials deny these allegations, claiming MAX is designed to make daily life easier and better for citizens by integrating various government services.
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