Russia confirms WhatsApp ban, says citizens can use …; Facebook and Instagram too erased, get designated as “extremist”

Russia has confirmed ban on Meta’s WhatsApp. Russia said that it has blocked the messaging service WhatsApp over its failure to comply with local legislation. Kremlin urged WhatsApp’s 100 million Russian users to switch to a domestic alternative. “As for the blocking of WhatsApp… such a decision was indeed made and implemented,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Peskov said the decision was due to WhatsApp’s “reluctance to comply with the norms and letter of Russian law”.

The government has asked citizens to use country’s own Max app, calling it a good alternative. “Max is an accessible alternative, a developing messenger, a national messenger.