Russia has effectively erased WhatsApp from its internet, impacting up to 100 million users in a bold move by regulator Roskomnadzor. On Wednesday, the app was removed from the national directory, severing access without prior slowdown warnings, as reported by the Financial Times and Gizmodo. WhatsApp condemned this as an attempt to force users onto a “state-owned surveillance app,” highlighting the isolation of millions from secure communication.
This crackdown escalates Russia’s long-running battle against foreign messaging services amid its push for digital sovereignty. Restrictions began in August 2025 with blocks on voice and video calls, citing WhatsApp’s failure to aid fraud and terrorism probes. Courts fined the Meta-owned app repeatedly for not removing banned content or opening a local office; by December, speeds dropped 70%, but full removal came after ongoing non-compliance. Telegram faced similar cuts this week, leaving Russians scrambling.
Enter Max, VK’s 2025-launched “superapp” modeled on China’s WeChat, now aggressively promoted as the national alternative. Preinstalled on devices and endorsed by celebrities and educators, it offers chats, video calls, file sharing up to 4GB, payments via Russia’s Faster Payment System, and government services like digital IDs and e-signatures. Unlike WhatsApp’s encryption, Max mandates activity sharing with authorities and lacks apparent privacy safeguards, per The Insider.
The Kremlin justifies the ban as protecting citizens from scams and terrorism while achieving tech independence under sanctions. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov cited Meta’s refusal to follow Russian law, though WhatsApp could return via compliance talks. Critics see it as unprecedented speech suppression, building on post-2022 Ukraine invasion censorship labeled “unprecedented” by Amnesty International. Yet past efforts, like the failed 2018 Telegram block, exposed regime overreach.
Users are turning to VPNs or rivals, but Max’s rise could cement state surveillance in daily life. This mirrors global trends—France pushes local apps, and Meta faces U.S. spying claims—but Russia’s unencrypted alternative raises alarms for privacy. As Putin eyes indefinite rule, such controls signal deepening authoritarianism, forcing 100 million into monitored chats.
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents
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