Russian MPs Call for Ban on Whatsapp Use and Switch to Local App

JAKARTA - A member of the Russian parliament on Wednesday, October 19 urged state institutions to stop using the messaging application WhatsApp. He also hopes Russia's industry ministry to promote domestically produced software as Russia tries to break away from dependence on Western technology.

A series of actions have also been taken by the Russian government to punish, fine and limit the influence of Western technology companies in the country.

For example, the owner of WhatsApp, Meta Platforms Inc., was found guilty of "extremist activity" in Russia in March and was later added to a list of "terrorists and extremists" by financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring. Meta's lawyers in court said Meta did not engage in extremist activity and was against Russophobia.

Russia also blocked Facebook and Instagram from Meta in March, rejecting restrictions on Russian media and some posts allowed by users in Ukraine.

However, Whatsapp, which is popular and widely used by Russian citizens, is still available normally. But Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of Russia's parliamentary committee on information policy, on Wednesday said he would personally remove the app and recommend a wider ban on Whatsapp.

Telegram Competitors Whatsapp

"I think it is necessary to introduce a complete ban on the use of WhatsApp for official purposes by Russian state and municipal employees," Gorelkin wrote on Telegram, as quoted by Reuters. While Telegram itself is currently a very popular alternative messaging in Russia.

"Whether it is the Russian alternative or from Dubai does not matter - the main thing is that it does not belong to a company that openly participates in the information war against our country and is included in the list of terrorist and extremist organizations," added Gorelkin.

Russia has acknowledged a major shortcoming with its electronics industry. As Western sanctions and an exodus of foreign companies hinder its access to imports and technological solutions, Moscow has sought to boost the industry with tax breaks and preferential loans.

Vasily Shpak, deputy minister of industry and trade, said the niches vacated by foreign telecommunications manufacturers should be filled by domestic manufacturers.

"There will be no turning back," Interfax news agency quoted Shpak as saying, adding that companies leaving the country should not be allowed to return to the same places they had left.

"This is enough for our manufacturers to fill in," Shpak said, calling for electronic products with domestic software to form "the basis of Russia's technological independence".