Russian MPs anticipate WhatsApp prohibition
(MENAFN) WhatsApp could soon be banned in Russia as lawmakers raise concerns over national security and prepare for tighter restrictions on foreign-developed software. This follows President Vladimir Putin’s directive for new regulations targeting technology from so-called "unfriendly" countries, expected by September.
Anton Gorelkin, deputy chair of the State Duma’s information policy committee, suggested that WhatsApp should be preparing to leave the Russian market. Fellow committee member Anton Nemkin echoed the sentiment, calling the app a “legalized threat to national security” and asserting that its “fate in Russia is sealed.”
The criticism is rooted in Meta’s 2022 designation as a distributor of extremist content in Russia. That status followed the company’s temporary policy allowing calls for violence against Russians in the context of the Ukraine conflict—an exception to its usual hate speech rules.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that WhatsApp, like any company operating in Russia, must obey national laws, but he stopped short of confirming a planned ban.
Despite the controversy, WhatsApp remains the country’s most-used messaging platform, with a reported 97.4 million monthly users as of April, according to Mediascope.
In response, the Russian government is backing the development of a homegrown messaging app integrated with the national ID system, aiming to provide secure access to government and financial services. The new service is currently in public beta testing. Gorelkin noted that it could serve as a viable alternative to WhatsApp.
Russia already enforces rules on digital communication, including a recent mandate requiring banks and businesses to use secure channels when transmitting personal data.
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