The Russian authorities is attempting to dam WhatsApp within the nation as its crackdown on communication platforms exterior its management intensifies.
WhatsApp introduced the motion in opposition to it on X, calling it “a backwards step” that “can solely result in much less security for individuals in Russia.”
WhatsApp assured its Russian customers that it’ll proceed doing all the things it could to maintain them linked.
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In line with Russian media, the nation’s web watchdog, Roskomnadzor, had not too long ago excluded the domains whatsapp.com and internet.whatsapp.com from the Nationwide Area Title System, citing the official clarification of countering crime and fraud.
In observe, excluding the domains from home DNS routing made WhatsApp providers accessible solely to customers who use VPN instruments or exterior resolvers.
Nevertheless, extra aggressive measures are reportedly now in place, with the most recent try to completely block WhatsApp in Russia. The moment messenger’s guardian firm, Meta, has been designated as an “extremist” entity in Russia since 2022.
WhatsApp noticed its first restrictions within the nation in August 2025, when Roskomnadzor started throttling voice and video calls. In October 2025, the authorities tried to block new consumer registrations.
Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov reportedly said that the authorities are open to permitting WhatsApp to renew operations within the nation, supplied that Meta complies with native laws.
WhatsApp blocks got here shortly after comparable motion was taken in opposition to Telegram, which was reportedly aggressively throttled earlier this week in Russia.
Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, responded to the state of affairs by stating that Russia is attempting to encourage its residents to make use of the Kremlin-controlled MAX messenger app.
MAX is a controversial communications platform developed by VK, which grew to become obligatory on all digital gadgets bought within the nation since September 2025.
Though MAX is promoted as a safe app that safeguards nationwide communications from international surveillance, a number of impartial reviewers have raised considerations about encryption weaknesses, authorities entry, and in depth data-collection dangers.
For now, customers in Russia might be able to proceed accessing their messengers of alternative by utilizing VPN instruments, although these are usually not immune to the federal government’s crackdown both.
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