Russia has attempted to “fully block” Meta-owned WhatsApp in the country, according to a company spokesperson. It aims to promote homegrown social media and messaging platforms to gain greater control over its online space.
Moscow’s growing dispute with foreign tech-providers has intensified after the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Russian authorities are pushing forward the state-backed app ‘MAX’, which critics claim would allow the government to track users. State media, however, has dismissed any such claims.
Aligning With Russian Legislation
WhatsApp released a statement saying Russia was aiming to drive users toward its “state-owned surveillance app.”
“Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia,” WhatsApp said in a statement.
“We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected,” the company said.
When inquired about whether WhatsApp, which has over 100 million users, will return to Russia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told TASS, in a video published by the news agency, “This is again a question of fulfilling the legislation. If the Meta corporation fulfils this and enters into dialogue with Russian authorities, then we have the possibility of reaching an agreement.”
He added that, “If the corporation (Meta) sticks to an uncompromising position and, I would say, shows itself unready to align with Russian legislation, then there is no chance.”
Apps Refuse To Share Information
According to a previous report from the Financial Times, Russian authorities have removed WhatsApp from the equivalent of an online directory that is run by Roskomnadzor, the state’s communications watchdog.
Since last year, Russia has been tightening control over internet spaces. They were already limiting calls on WhatsApp, Apple’s video-calling service FaceTime and alternative messaging service Telegram, and have accused foreign-owned platforms of refusing to share information with law enforcement in cases of fraud and terrorism.
However, Telegram’s Russian-born founder, Pavel Durov, has said that the app will remain committed to protecting freedom of speech and user privacy.
(with inputs from Reuters)
