Russia has fully blocked the U.S.-owned messaging platform WhatsApp, escalating a months-long crackdown on foreign technology companies and urging users to migrate to a state-backed alternative.
The Kremlin said the decision was taken after Meta Platforms, WhatsApp’s parent company, failed to comply with Russian law.
The move effectively restricts access to Russia’s most popular messenger service, leaving it available only through virtual private networks.
Domain names associated with WhatsApp have disappeared from Russia’s national domain name system, preventing devices from receiving the app’s IP addresses.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the block was implemented due to noncompliance with national legislation and suggested Russians switch to MAX, a state-developed messaging platform.
He described MAX as an accessible and developing national messenger available as an alternative for citizens.
Peskov also indicated that WhatsApp’s full service could resume if Meta complies with Russian law and enters into dialogue with authorities.
"This is a matter of complying with the law. If the Meta corporation complies with it and enters into dialogue with the Russian authorities, then an opportunity to reach an agreement will arise," he said.
Russia has designated Meta as a terrorist and extremist organization since 2022.
Authorities argue that WhatsApp has been used to organize terrorist activities and facilitate fraud and extortion.
Roskomnadzor, the state communications regulator, did not immediately comment on the latest measures.
Meta said Russia attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app.
"Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia," the company said.
Critics of MAX say it could be used to track users, a claim Russian authorities deny.
In Moscow, activists briefly locked the doors of Roskomnadzor and displayed a poster calling for an unregulated internet.
Public reaction appeared mixed, with some residents expressing concern over limits on choice while others said alternative messaging platforms were available.