ALBAWABA - Several reports claim that Russia has "attempted to fully block" Meta's messaging app WhatsApp in the country, potentially barring 100 million users from using the platform.
According to AFP, this comes after pressure from Moscow to push the local internet users into a more state-controlled messaging app. WhatsApp took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "Today the Russian government attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app."
WhatsApp added, "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. We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected."
Will Russia fully block WhatsApp?
This comes as part of greater efforts to ban other messaging apps such as Signal and Telegram, citing a "lack of security," as reported by the BBC.
The BBC also states that Russia aims to push most of its internet users to a new "national messenger" app called "Max," which the outlet claims is closely monitored by the Kremlin.
Tass Russian News Agency recently stated that the country hopes to permanently ban WhatsApp in 2026. This doesn't come as a surprise since Russia regards Mark Zuckerberg's Meta as an extremist organisation, according to Russian official Andrei Svintsov.
BRICS News claimed on X that Russia has officially blocked "Meta's WhatsApp messaging app nationwide."
