Russia Attempts to Fully Block WhatsApp to Promote State Surveillance App, Meta Says
Meta-owned WhatsApp has accused the Russian government of attempting to completely block the popular messaging app in the country, describing the move as an effort to force over 100 million users toward a state-sponsored alternative. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp declared: “Today the Russian government attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app. Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia. We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected.” The company did not specify the exact nature or success of the blocking attempt, but reports indicate that millions of users in Russia experienced sudden disruptions to the service. This follows previous restrictions on features in WhatsApp and other apps like Telegram, amid ongoing tensions between Russia and foreign tech platforms since the 2022 ...