Russia has taken steps to restrict instant messaging services such as WhatsApp and Telegram. While the exact details are unknown, it appears that Russia intends to promote domestically developed alternatives while tightening oversight of its digital ecosystem.
In response, WhatsApp criticised the move, warning that blocking the service would cut off secure communication for more than 100 million users in the country. In a statement published on X, the Meta-owned platform stated that the action was intended to direct users to a government-backed application and argued that restricting access to private messaging tools would ultimately reduce user safety. The company stated that it is working to keep people in Russia connected.
On the other hand, Telegram founder Pavel Durov issued strong statements condemning the move as an attempt to coerce citizens into using a state-controlled app designed for monitoring and censorship. He stated that the company’s stance will not change, and he reaffirmed Telegram’s commitment to user privacy and freedom of expression despite the mounting pressure.
The restrictions come amid ongoing tensions between Moscow and foreign technology companies since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The authorities have increasingly promoted “MAX,” a state-supported messaging platform that critics claim could allow for user surveillance. However, such claims have been dismissed by Russian state media.
Dmitry Peskov, a Russian diplomat, stated that the future of WhatsApp will depend on Meta, and that if they follow local regulations. He suggested that dialogue with authorities could lead to an agreement, but warned that refusing to comply with Russian law would leave little room for compromise.
Over the past year, Russian regulators have tightened controls on a number of foreign platforms. Access to certain WhatsApp and Telegram calling features has been restricted, with officials accusing the companies of failing to cooperate with law enforcement in cases of fraud and terrorism. In December, Apple’s FaceTime service was also disabled.