Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company says | Russia
Max, a spokesman for the Meta-owned company, said Russia was trying to “completely block” WhatsApp in an attempt to redirect users to its state-backed communications app.
The company did not disclose further details about the extent to which the initiative was successful or what action was taken to prevent the practice.
Speaking to the Guardian, a WhatsApp spokesperson said: “Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communications is a step backwards and can only lead to less security for people in Russia. We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected.”
The move fits with the Kremlin’s aim to achieve an “independent internet” – an online space cut off from western technology and outside influence and more vulnerable to state control.
The latest rift between Russia and WhatsApp comes amid a broader crackdown on social media, most recently targeting Telegram, another popular messaging app used by more than 60 million Russians every day. The move sparked criticism from front-line Russian troops as well as pro-war bloggers and exiled opposition figures.
After users reported traffic slowdowns and delays in downloading videos and images on Tuesday, Telegram’s Russian-born billionaire founder Pavel Durov, based in Dubai, criticized Russian officials. “Restricting the freedom of citizens is never the right answer,” he said, adding: “Telegram represents freedom of speech and privacy, regardless of repression.”
Russian state-backed app Max is largely modeled on China’s own “super app” WeChat and is approximately 55 million users throughout Russia. In August last year, Russia ordered Max to be pre-installed on new phones; critics argued that the app could be used to spy on users; this claim was dismissed as false in state media.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, has at least 100 million users In Russia, this makes it the country’s most widely used messaging service, according to the Financial Times. It had previously reported that Russian authorities had removed the app from an online directory operated by Russia’s media monitoring agency, Roskomnadzor.
The source added that Russian authorities also removed Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram from the index.
In December last year, Russian authorities blocked access to Snapchat and also imposed restrictions on Apple’s own video calling service, FaceTime.
In a video published on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agency Tass when asked whether WhatsApp would return to Russia: “This is again a matter of fulfilling the legislation. If the Meta company fulfills this and enters into dialogue with the Russian authorities, then we have the possibility of reaching an agreement.”
Peskov added: “If the company [Meta] “If he takes an uncompromising stance and shows that he is not ready to comply with Russian legislation, then we have no chance.”
The Guardian has contacted the Kremlin for additional comment.
