WhatsApp accuses Russia of bid to fully block service to push state app MAX

Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in the country in a bid to push users towards a state-backed rival application, the messaging platform said on February 11, escalating an already simmering standoff between Moscow and foreign technology companies.

A spokesperson for Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp told Reuters that Russian authorities were seeking to shut down the service entirely as part of efforts to promote a home-grown app called MAX. The Kremlin has been encouraging citizens to migrate to domestic platforms as it seeks tighter control over the country’s digital ecosystem.

WhatsApp alleged that the move was designed to drive users to what it described as a “state-owned surveillance app”.

“We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected,” the company said, signaling that it would resist attempts to sever access for its users in Russia.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Moscow and Western technology firms following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Russian authorities have stepped up regulatory pressure, demanding compliance with local laws and greater data access.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that WhatsApp’s future in Russia hinged on Meta’s willingness to comply with domestic legislation.

“This is again a question of fulfilling the legislation. If the Meta corporation fulfils this and enters into dialogue with Russian authorities, then we have the possibility of reaching an agreement,” Peskov told state news agency TASS.

“If the corporation sticks to an uncompromising position and shows itself unready to align with Russian legislation, then there is no chance,” he added.

The Financial Times previously reported that WhatsApp, which has an estimated 100 million users in Russia, had been removed from an online registry maintained by Roskomnadzor, the country’s communications watchdog — a move widely seen as a precursor to stricter restrictions.

Russian authorities have denied accusations that MAX could be used to track users, with state media dismissing such claims as false.

Over the past year, Moscow has already curtailed certain voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing foreign-owned platforms of refusing to cooperate with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism investigations. In December, Russia also blocked Apple’s FaceTime service.

Telegram’s Russian-born founder Pavel Durov has previously said the platform remains committed to protecting user privacy and freedom of speech.

With tensions deepening, WhatsApp’s fate in Russia appears increasingly tied to the broader geopolitical struggle over data control, digital sovereignty and state oversight of online communication.