Complete ban on WhatsApp: WhatsApp is a widely used messaging app, serving both personal and business needs. The platform has made communication easy and seamless, contributing to its rapid growth. Reports are now emerging that WhatsApp may be banned in Russia. Russia’s state communications regulator warned on Friday, November 28, that if WhatsApp continues to violate Russian law, it could be completely shut down in the country.
Is Russia about to ban WhatsApp?
Russia’s state communications regulator warned on Friday that if WhatsApp continues to violate Russian law, it could be completely shut down in the country. There are reports that the authorities began blocking some WhatsApp and Telegram calls in August. Furthermore, foreign companies’ services were accused of refusing to provide information requested by law enforcement agencies in investigations related to fraud and terrorism. This is considered to be the major trigger for the country’s move.
Russia wants the giant to do these..
Roskomnadzor, the Russian regulator for communications, IT, and the media, reiterated its accusation on Friday that WhatsApp is not fulfilling its legal obligations to prevent and combat criminal activities in Russia. Authorities there have stated that if the messaging service fails to meet the demands of Russian law, it will be completely blocked.
How WhatsApp Responded
WhatsApp has accused Moscow of trying to prevent millions of Russian citizens from accessing secure communications. Russian officials are promoting a government-supported competitor app called MAX, which critics claim can be used to track users. State media has dismissed these allegations as false.
WhatsApp Banned Countries
WhatsApp has been completely or temporarily banned in several countries. The strictest ban is in China, where the government blocks WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption to tighten internet control and monitoring. The app has also faced temporary bans in Iran and Syria, especially during anti-government protests, for reasons linked to information control and security.
In Qatar and the UAE, WhatsApp’s call feature has long been blocked because it clashed with VoIP regulations and the interests of telecom companies. In many countries, such restrictions are imposed during periods of political unrest, misinformation, or increased government censorship.
