WhatsApp has accused Russia of trying to block its platform, saying the move targets the right to secure, private communication. The Meta-owned app said Russia’s restrictions—affecting some calls on both WhatsApp and Telegram—stem from its refusal to give law enforcement access to user data in fraud and terrorism cases.
“WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and resists government efforts to undermine secure communication, which is why Russia is attempting to block it from over 100 million people,” the company said, adding it will keep working to ensure encrypted messaging remains available in the country.
Telegram, facing similar curbs, said it uses AI moderation to remove millions of harmful public messages daily, including those promoting violence, sabotage, or fraud.
Russia’s long-running standoff with foreign tech firms over content and data storage has deepened since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with critics warning the Kremlin is tightening control over the nation’s internet.