• WhatsApp has criticised Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, for restricting its service and threatening a full block unless it complies with local law.
• The company warns that forcing users onto less secure, state-mandated messaging apps could compromise privacy for more than 100 million Russians.
What happened: Russia restricts WhatsApp as regulator cites legal non-compliance
WhatsApp has publicly criticised restrictions imposed on its messaging service in Russia, accusing authorities of attempting to deprive more than 100 million people of the right to private, end-to-end encrypted communication just before the holiday season. The comments were issued after Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, reiterated warnings that it could completely block WhatsApp’s service if the company did not bring its operations into compliance with Russian law.
Roskomnadzor told Russian state media that “WhatsApp continues to violate Russian law” and claimed the platform was used to “organise and carry out terrorist acts… to recruit their perpetrators and to commit fraud and other crimes against our citizens.” The regulator said it was taking steps to gradually restrict access to the service as a result.
Thousands of users in Russia reported slowdowns and intermittent outages on WhatsApp’s service on Tuesday, according to internet monitoring websites. In recent months, Russian authorities have also limited some voice and video calls on WhatsApp as part of what they describe as efforts to combat online crime.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta Platforms, Inc., said that the restrictions were aimed at forcing people onto “less secure and government-mandated apps”, which could put users at greater risk. The company emphasised that WhatsApp is “deeply embedded in the fabric of every community in the country” from family groups to workplace chats across Russian regions.
The current dispute is part of a broader pattern. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin has blocked or restricted a range of foreign-owned digital platforms including Facebook and Instagram and has pursued tighter controls over online content and data.
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Why it’s important
The confrontation between WhatsApp and Russian regulators highlights tensions between international technology companies and national governments over the enforcement of local laws and control over digital communication. Russia’s actions reflect a wider push for “digital sovereignty”, with authorities arguing that foreign platforms must comply with domestic legal demands around content moderation, data access and cooperation with law enforcement. Critics, however, see such measures as a challenge to privacy and personal freedoms.
Mandatory compliance with local data and security laws has been a flashpoint for global platforms across multiple jurisdictions. In some cases, failure to comply has led to partial or complete bans, as occurred previously with other Meta-owned services in Russia. The risk of a total WhatsApp ban raises questions about how global messaging platforms can balance adherence to local legislation with commitments to user encryption and privacy.
Concerns about surveillance and state access to personal communications are amplified by the promotion of state-backed alternatives such as MAX, a domestic messenger that critics argue could allow government monitoring of users. Some rights advocates warn that such apps, lacking end-to-end encryption, could undermine secure communications and reduce privacy protections for ordinary users.
Industry analysts say that tech firms face increasing regulatory fragmentation, in which different countries impose divergent requirements that make it difficult to offer uniform global services. This creates risks not only for messaging platforms but also for users who depend on these tools for personal and professional communication. The debate also underscores the ongoing tension between digital rights and national security frameworks that many governments are seeking to expand.
