WhatsApp has issued an official statement alleging that Russian authorities attempted to completely block the messaging platform in an effort to push users toward a state-run alternative that lacks strong privacy protections.
In a post shared on X, WhatsApp said the move was aimed at forcing people to switch to a government-controlled application that is not protected from surveillance. The company warned that isolating more than 100 million users and denying access to private and secure communication represents “a step backward” and could reduce the overall safety of people in Russia.
“We continue to do everything possible to ensure users remain connected,” WhatsApp said in its statement.
The development follows long-standing tensions between WhatsApp and Russian regulators. According to reports from the BBC, Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor has repeatedly warned WhatsApp to comply with local laws, including data and content regulations that foreign tech companies are required to follow.
Earlier this year, state-owned news agency TASS reported that WhatsApp is expected to face a permanent ban in Russia in 2026, further signaling the government’s intention to tighten control over foreign messaging platforms.
WhatsApp is widely used in Russia for both personal and business communication and has long emphasized end-to-end encryption and user privacy, positions that have often conflicted with government efforts to increase oversight of digital communications.
The Russian government has not yet issued a direct statement regarding this report from WhatsApp.
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