WhatsApp has accused Russia of attempting to block its services in the country, saying the move is aimed at undermining users’ right to secure, encrypted communication.
In a statement on Thursday, the Meta-owned messaging platform said it “defies government attempts to violate people's right to secure communication,” adding that this was why Russian authorities were seeking to cut off access for more than 100 million users.
“WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted,” the company said. “We will keep doing all we can to make end-to-end encrypted communication available to people everywhere, including in Russia.”
Russian restrictions on messaging apps
The remarks come as Russian regulators began restricting certain calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of failing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism investigations.
Telegram said it actively moderates public areas of its platform using artificial intelligence tools to remove “millions of malicious messages every day,” and combats calls for sabotage, violence and fraud.
Russia has been locked in a long-running standoff with foreign technology companies over data storage and content control, a dispute that escalated sharply after Moscow launched its military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.
Critics say the Kremlin has since accelerated efforts to tighten control over the country’s internet space and limit access to independent or foreign platforms.
The latest restrictions signal a deepening digital rift between Moscow and Silicon Valley — with encrypted messaging now at the centre of the fight.
