In a dramatic escalation of its tech crackdown, Russia is threatening to pull the plug on WhatsApp, one of the country’s most popular messaging apps, unless Meta complies with sweeping legal demands. The move signals a new front in Moscow’s battle to tighten control over digital communication and online dissent.
Russia has ratcheted up its long-standing spat with WhatsApp by threatening the popular messaging platform with a countrywide ban over repeated violations of Russian law and non-cooperation with the police.
The country’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, claimed WhatsApp was being increasingly exploited for illegal purposes, which include fraud and terrorist recruitment, leading Moscow to think about completely shutting down the service.
The telecom watchdog said WhatsApp has been used to facilitate a range of criminal activities, from fraud to terrorist recruitment, and alleged that the Meta-owned platform has failed to comply with requests to help law enforcement agencies. Officials say it is increasingly being misused to carry out “activities that threaten national security,” hence the call for stricter action.
This warning comes after earlier moves by Russia to restrict voice and video calls on WhatsApp, citing concerns that the service was being exploited by scams and criminal networks.
Users have complained that WhatsApp calls are often disrupted and that much functionality has been lost. WhatsApp nevertheless remains extremely popular, above all among individuals and small businesses.
As part of the crackdown, Moscow has touted MAX, a state-supported messaging app, as a compliant alternative. In contrast to WhatsApp, MAX lacks the feature of end-to-end encryption.
According to the Russian authorities, this is the only way the app can be made legally accessible for the detectives. The critics, however, fear that the transition to MAX may result in more state spying and censorship.
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WhatsApp argues that the reduction of encryption strength or the handing over of user data would put in jeopardy the privacy and safety of the global users. Meta has accused the Russian government of trying to undermine secure communication by making demands that encrypted platforms cannot provide.
With regulators hinting that restrictions will increase, a full ban is a lingering possibility. Millions of Russians are left in a state of limbo as the government’s deadline for compliance nears.
As tensions mount, one question remains: will WhatsApp give in to Russian demands, or will it get cut off from one of its biggest markets?