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The Kremlin's crackdown on internet freedom intensifies
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- Russia's communications regulator threatens a full block of WhatsApp
- The move is part of a broader crackdown on internet freedoms
- WhatsApp has an estimated 97 million users in Russia
Russia has escalated its clampdown on internet freedom, with the country's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, threatening a complete ban on the popular messaging service WhatsApp.
As reported by the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, the agency has accused the Meta-owned platform of being used for "organising and carrying out terrorist activity," and for failing to comply with Russian law.
This is the latest in a series of moves by the Kremlin to control the flow of information within its borders, a trend that has been escalating since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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While gradual restrictions have already been implemented against WhatsApp for months, including the blocking of voice calls since August, a full ban would be a major blow to digital communication in the country. This, in an environment where the use of the best VPN apps is also increasingly restricted.
The estimated 97 million WhatsApp users in Russia would be, in fact, stripped of their ability to communicate freely and securely, hindering both personal privacy and business operations. With Signal already being blocked since 2024, users could be pushed towards state-controlled alternatives like the new MAX app, which experts warn has an "enormous surveillance potential."
WhatsApp has so far resisted the demands of the Russian government, vowing to "keep doing all we can to make end-to-end encrypted communication available to people everywhere, including in Russia" – Reuters reported. The company has framed the issue as a defense of the "right to secure communication," a stance that places it in direct opposition to the Kremlin's increasingly tight control over the digital sphere.
Russia's widening digital censorship
The threat against WhatsApp is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a broader, more systematic effort by the Russian government to silence dissent and control the online landscape.
It comes as Russia also designated Human Rights Watch as an "undesirable" organization, effectively banning its work in the country. This designation is part of a wider trend of labeling any group that criticizes the government as a threat to state security.
Since September, the Russian government has also been forcing smartphone makers to pre-install its own state-backed messenger app, MAX, raising concerns about surveillance.
The government has also introduced a bill recently that would require telecom operators to suspend services at the request of the FSB, further solidifying the state's control over communication channels.
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Rene MillmanContributing WriterRene Millman is a seasoned technology journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, the Financial Times, Computer Weekly, and IT Pro. With over two decades of experience as a reporter and editor, he specializes in making complex topics like cybersecurity, VPNs, and enterprise software accessible and engaging.
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