Russia trying to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp to push ‘state-owned surveillance app’, claims Meta

Russia reportedly tried to “fully block” Meta’s WhatsApp in the country amid efforts to promote home-grown platforms and gain greater control over its internet space. The block is Russia’s efforts to drive users to a “state-owned surveillance app”, a Meta spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday. Meta Platforms, which owns WhatsApp, said that it “continued to do everything we can to keep users connected”.

Russia has been at loggerheads with foreign tech providers since the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Authorities in Moscow are promoting a state-backed app, ‘MAX’, which critics have reportedly claimed could be used to track users.