Moscow Blocks WhatsApp Over Legal Dispute
Russia has officially blocked WhatsApp, accusing it of failing to comply with national legislation. The move comes just days after authorities restricted access to Telegram for similar reasons. Owned by US tech giant Meta, WhatsApp has more than 100 million users in Russia.
Moscow has blocked WhatsApp nationwide, citing legal non-compliance, and is steering users toward MAX a state aligned platform integrated with messaging, payments, and public services. MAX allows data access upon official request, unlike WhatsApp’s encryption model.
This marks a… pic.twitter.com/Xn42LXq0kd— TAM (@Awakeningmedia1) February 12, 2026
It was the most widely used messaging app among Russians aged 25 and older in 2023, according to local media reports. Officials previously blocked voice calls on both platforms last August, claiming they were being used to facilitate criminal activity. Since then, access to WhatsApp had been gradually slowed before the full ban was announced.
Data Access at the Heart of the Dispute
Russian authorities have demanded that both messaging platforms provide user data upon request for investigations into fraud and what Moscow describes as “terrorist” activities. Officials argue that compliance is necessary for national security and law enforcement purposes.
However, both WhatsApp and Telegram have faced criticism in the past for resisting broad government data requests, citing user privacy and encryption protections.
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Push Toward State-Backed Max
At the same time, Moscow has been promoting Max, a domestic messaging app designed to replace foreign platforms. Unlike WhatsApp, Max does not offer end-to-end encryption a feature privacy advocates say protects users from surveillance.
Critics argue that the crackdown on foreign messaging services is part of a wider effort by Russian authorities to tighten control over the internet and monitor online communication more closely. With WhatsApp now blocked and Telegram under pressure, millions of Russian users may soon face limited choices in how they connect online.
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