The Kremlin continues to impose restrictions on messaging apps, and Russia has now ordered WhatsApp to be blocked. This was an attempt to divert over 100 million Russian WhatsApp users to a “state-owned surveillance app, according to Meta, the company that owns the app.
The decision was reached “due to Meta’s unwillingness to comply with the norms and the letter of Russian law, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who spoke to the BBC. In his words, complies with the law and enters into dialogue” are the two conditions necessary for Meta to restart operations.
According to Peskov, the “national messenger is an available alternative for Russians when asked about the possibility of authorities attempting to compel them to use the state-developed Max app.
The Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor announced this week that it is further restricting access to the messaging app Telegram, citing security concerns. Reports indicate that Russian military in Ukraine make extensive use of the popular messaging app Telegram. Bloggers who support the war have voiced their displeasure because the move is obstructing ground communications.
Russian officials started working on a local alternative to the World Wide Web even before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Along with a push towards a state-backed platform named Max, those measures have gained momentum during the war.
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