Russia’s state communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has threatened to fully block WhatsApp, accusing the platform of failing to comply with national laws on crime prevention, state media reported on Friday.
The warning follows restrictions introduced in August on some WhatsApp and Telegram calls, as authorities claim foreign-owned services, including Meta’s platforms, routinely refuse to provide data requested in fraud and terrorism investigations.
«If the messaging service continues to fail to meet the demands of Russian legislation, it will be completely blocked,» Roskomnadzor told Interfax.
WhatsApp has accused Moscow of trying to cut millions of Russians off from secure communication.
The pressure comes as Russian officials promote a state-backed alternative app, MAX, which critics warn could be used for surveillance — claims dismissed by state media.
The dispute unfolds amid a broader tightening of internet controls across Russia. Mobile network shutdowns, aimed at disrupting Ukrainian drone operations, have hit dozens of regions in recent months, affecting payments, ATMs and even medical monitoring apps. Despite the outages, analysts say they have done little to reduce drone strikes on Russian infrastructure.
During blackouts, only a limited number of government-approved websites remain accessible under «white list» rules.
