The Russian Federation’s Roskomnadzor has announced that it continues to impose systematic restrictions on the messaging app WhatsApp due to violations of Russian law. According to the agency, the service is being used to organize and carry out terrorist attacks in Russia, recruit terrorists, and commit fraud and other crimes against citizens.
The report states that WhatsApp fails to comply with requirements aimed at preventing and combating crime in Russia. The regulator emphasized that, under such circumstances, restrictions on the messaging service will be extended, and if it continues to violate Russian law, the service could be completely blocked in the country.
Roskomnadzor reminded users that the gradual deterioration of WhatsApp voice and video calls began in August. Restrictions are being introduced gradually to allow users to switch to other services . The agency recommends choosing domestic messaging apps and explicitly states that, if the current situation persists, the block could become the final measure.
Andrey Svintsov , deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies and Communications, told NEWS.ru that he expects WhatsApp to be completely blocked in Russia in the coming months .
He estimates this could happen within four to six months. He believes this won’t pose a major problem for users, noting that Viber, once popular, has virtually disappeared from the public eye since its bankruptcy, and suggests a similar situation could occur for WhatsApp.
Svintsov emphasized that, in his opinion, the ban was due to the messenger’s creators’ refusal to cooperate with the Russian authorities.
He emphasized that WhatsApp is owned by Meta (considered an extremist organization in Russia, whose activities are banned) and that Russian citizens’ data is stored abroad. The MP claims that the service transmits personal, business, and sometimes critical information, and alleges that this data is used by Western intelligence agencies, including in the fight against Russia.
In light of this, he concludes that, in his opinion, “further restrictions on the messaging service will be necessary.”
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