Russia Blocks WhatsApp, Promotes State-Controlled Messaging App
- Russia has attempted a full block of WhatsApp, affecting over 100 million users.
- The Kremlin aims to redirect users to Max, a state-controlled app lacking encryption.
- Roskomnadzor is also restricting Telegram until it complies with local laws.
- Max has been mandatory on new devices since last year and is seen as a surveillance tool.
- Digital rights advocates warn that such moves increase government control over communication.
Russia’s decision to block WhatsApp and restrict Telegram reflects a broader strategy to control digital communication by promoting state-owned alternatives like Max, which lacks end-to-end encryption and raises concerns about surveillance and privacy among users.
This move affects over a hundred million users, pushing them towards platforms that may compromise their privacy and security. Source
