Web desk: Russia announced on Thursday that it blocked WhatsApp for failing to follow national laws. Earlier this week authorities also restricted access to Telegram for similar reasons. As a result millions of users now face limited communication options.
For several months Moscow has encouraged people to switch to Max. Max is a state backed messaging service. However it does not offer end to end encryption. Therefore activists warn that officials could use it as a surveillance tool.
Critics argue that these actions form part of a wider effort to control the internet. They believe the government wants to monitor online activity more closely. Consequently digital freedom groups have raised concerns about privacy.
WhatsApp belongs to the US technology company Meta. The app has more than 100 million users in Russia. In 2023 it ranked as the most popular messaging service among people aged 25 and older. In contrast Telegram attracted a younger audience according to a report by RBK.
Last August Russia blocked voice calls on both platforms. Officials claimed that criminals used the apps for illegal activities. Since then regulators have slowed down WhatsApp. In November authorities warned that they would fully ban the service if it failed to meet legal demands.
Russian officials want both platforms to share user data when law enforcement agencies request it. They say investigators need this access to examine fraud cases and activities labeled as terrorism. However privacy advocates argue that such measures threaten user rights and online security.
Read more: How to recover your hacked WhatsApp acount?
