Moscow: Russia has issued one of its strongest warnings yet against WhatsApp, signaling that the widely used messaging service could face a total shutdown across the country if it continues failing to meet national regulatory requirements. The latest threat, reported by the state-run news agency TASS, comes amid months of rising confrontation between Moscow’s communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, and foreign digital platforms operating in the country. Authorities argue that WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has repeatedly declined to align with Russian data-handling laws and has not cooperated sufficiently with law enforcement investigations. This statement marks a sharp escalation from earlier restrictions and highlights the Kremlin’s broader strategy of tightening control over digital communication channels.
Russian officials maintain that the move is necessary to combat a surge in online crime, including financial fraud, extremist activity, and other offences they claim are often coordinated using encrypted messaging apps. They insist that platforms like WhatsApp must either open local offices, store user data within Russia, and provide investigative access when requested, or face complete exclusion from the Russian digital sphere. Over the past year, Moscow has stepped up its rhetoric around “digital sovereignty,” arguing that foreign platforms threaten national security because they operate outside the state’s direct oversight. This latest warning is part of that wider narrative, which seeks to reduce dependence on global tech giants and strengthen homegrown alternatives.
The pressure on WhatsApp is not new. In mid-2025, Russia imposed partial restrictions affecting voice and video calls on both WhatsApp and Telegram, claiming non-compliance with data-sharing laws. While messaging initially remained unaffected, independent monitoring groups later reported that disruptions had spread to several regions, impacting even basic text communication. According to civil-society observers, access issues were detected in more than 30 federal regions by October, prompting concerns that a quiet, undeclared phase-out of the platform was already underway. Officials, however, have denied such allegations, insisting that any technical issues stem from WhatsApp’s refusal to adapt to Russian legal frameworks.
A potential full ban would significantly impact millions of Russian users who rely on the app for personal and professional communication. It would also affect NGOs, journalists, and activists who depend on end-to-end encryption for secure messaging. Critics argue that eliminating WhatsApp would push users toward state-backed messaging apps where privacy protections are weaker and surveillance capabilities are stronger. Some analysts warn that this could accelerate the fragmentation of the global internet, as countries increasingly prioritize national control over global interoperability.
For now, Roskomnadzor has not announced a timeline for any final decision. However, officials have hinted that unless Meta demonstrates willingness to comply with Russian regulatory demands, a comprehensive ban is inevitable. The standoff represents yet another chapter in Russia’s tightening grip over digital platforms and signals a potentially transformative shift in how citizens communicate online. The coming weeks will determine whether WhatsApp can preserve its foothold in Russia or whether it becomes the latest casualty of the state’s intensifying digital crackdown.