Russia blocked WhatsApp for over 100 million users

Russia blocks WhatsApp for over 100 million users in an attempt to steer communication towards state-controlled platforms with extensive surveillance risks. WhatsApp accuses the Russian government of trying to block the messaging service nationally to pressure users into a Kremlin-backed alternative.

In one statement on X, the Meta-owned service stated that the Russian state has attempted to isolate the country's population from private and secure communications. According to WhatsApp, this risks severely compromising cybersecurity and undermining users' personal privacy.

The blocking coincided with the removal of the Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor WhatsApp from the national online directory on February 11, causing widespread disruptions. Users are reporting that messages and voice calls are not working without VPN solutions which reflects previous restrictions imposed citing lack of cooperation in criminal investigations.

The development fits into Moscow's long-term strategy to control information flows and steer users towards domestic services. A clear example is the recently launched MAX app, which critics say is designed as a combined ecosystem for communication, government services, banking and document storage, and which is often compared to WeChat.

To unlike WhatsApp's end to end encryption which protects content from being seen State-controlled apps could give authorities real-time access to user data. Security experts warn of increased risks of surveillance, targeted cyberattacks and reduced space for free speech.

To Russia blocks WhatsApp seen by cybersecurity experts as a serious step towards increased digital surveillance and reduced resilience to hacking and phishing. At the same time, users risk being exposed to uncontrolled platforms where the level of security is not transparent.

Telegram is also expected to be hit with new restrictions soon. Previous Signal and FaceTime blockings shows according to Human Rights Watch in a clear pattern where Russia is building legal and technical barriers to an open internet. VPN usage has increased sharply but regulators are also restricting these, making safe circumvention difficult.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov believes that Meta must comply with Russian law for the service to function normally. For Russian users, the situation means increased risks from intercepted chats to targeted fraud as secure communication options become increasingly scarce.