WhatsApp Accuses Russia of Targeting Secure Communication, Promoting State App
WhatsApp has accused the Russian government of attempting to block millions of its users from secure communication after authorities began restricting calls made through the app.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Reuters.
Russian officials said the partial restrictions, which also apply to Telegram, were introduced because the foreign-owned platforms allegedly refused to share information with law enforcement in cases involving fraud and terrorism. Text messaging and voice notes on WhatsApp remain unaffected.
In a statement late Wednesday, WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, said its service is end-to-end encrypted and resists government attempts to undermine privacy.
“WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and defies government attempts to violate people's right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people,” the company said, vowing to maintain access for users in the country.
According to Mediascope data from July 2025, WhatsApp reaches 97.3 million users in Russia each month, compared with 90.8 million for Telegram. The state-backed VK Messenger trails far behind at 17.9 million users. Russia’s population is more than 140 million.
The disruption comes as Moscow promotes its new state-controlled messaging platform, MAX, which will integrate with government services. Critics warn it could enable extensive user tracking.
Digital rights advocates say the move is part of a broader strategy to tighten state control over the internet, echoing tactics used against YouTube, where slow download speeds have hindered access to content.
Human Rights Watch recently reported that Russia is steadily expanding its censorship and surveillance tools, creating a heavily controlled and isolated segment of the internet.
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