Earlier today Roskomnadzor, Russia’s federal communications authority, has lately threatened to completely prohibit WhatsApp if it fails to comply with Russian law, as it announced that it was considering banning popular messaging app WhatsApp, accusing it of failing to curb and combat crime as Moscow encourages Russians to use state-backed digital services.
In August, Russia prohibited users from making calls on the platform as part of a broader assault on Western-owned social media, which critics claim is intended to force Russians to use indigenous platforms.
According to Roskomnadzor, the Russian communications agency said that the service, WhatsApp is presently subject to increasing limits as it is being used to “organise and carry out terrorist acts in the country, to recruit perpetrators, and for fraud and other crimes against our citizens.”
It also said that voice and video conversations on WhatsApp have been mainly restricted and limited in Russia since August 2025, although text messaging is still widely available.
“If the messenger fails to comply with Russian legislation, it will be completely blocked,” according to the announcement.
Meta, which owns the messaging service, did not immediately respond.
WhatsApp and Telegram are the two most popular messaging applications in Russia.
Moscow wants both messengers to grant law enforcement access to data in order to investigate fraud and “terrorist” activity.
As this is a part of a bigger attempt by Russian authorities to tighten internet controls and lure consumers into state-controlled domestic services, such as the new “super app” dubbed MAX.
Rights groups and activists are concerned that this will expand Russia’s state surveillance and this might be used to target critics of the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin, or the conflict in Ukraine.
Also WhatsApp has accused Moscow of seeking to prevent millions of Russians from using encrypted communication.
In summary, while text messaging remains functional, the app is under increasing strain and may be fully disabled if the situation worsens.
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