US EditionRussia Warns WhatsApp May Face Nationwide Block over Non-Compliance
- On Friday, Roskomnadzor warned that WhatsApp, Meta Platforms' messaging service, could be completely blocked if it continues violating Russian law, Interfax and Reuters reported.
- Authorities say foreign-owned platforms refused to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism investigations, and in August, Moscow limited some WhatsApp and Telegram calls for non-compliance.
- Authorities are promoting the state-backed MAX app, which critics warn could "track" users, while WhatsApp accused Moscow of blocking secure communication and state media dismissed these claims.
- Such a shutdown would affect millions of users as WhatsApp says a nationwide block would deny millions of Russian users secure messaging, while past blackouts disrupted payments, ATMs and diabetic monitoring.
- Amid months of tighter controls, Russia has intensified internet restrictions, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling shutdowns `absolutely justified and necessary`, though analyst Kateryna Stepanenko said they have not curbed drone attacks.
53 Articles
53 Articles
Moscow considers that the Meta company does not meet the requirements for operating in the country, since it does not provide the information it wants on users.
The courier defends "the right of users to secure communication" while Russia has already banned telephone users with, last August.
Moscow, Russia. The Russian communications regulator said on Friday that he was considering banning the popular WhatsApp messaging app, which he accused of not doing enough to prevent criminal activities.The U.S. tech giant Meta, who owns WhatsApp, said Russia is trying to ban the app because “it challenges government attempts to violate people’s rights to secure communication.” Russian authorities urge its citizens to use state-backed apps and …
Since the beginning of his war of aggression in Ukraine, Russia has intensified its control on the Internet. Signal and Viber are already blocked, now WhatsApp could follow.
Calls via WhatsApp have been restricted for some time in Russia. Now, the Russian telecommunications authority is increasing the pressure on messenger service.
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