Russia Blocks WhatsApp, Kremlin Urges Citizens to Switch to National MAX App

The Russian government has officially blocked the instant messaging application WhatsApp completely (photo: x @infobaetecno)

JAKARTA - The Russian government has officially blocked the WhatsApp instant messaging application owned by Meta Platforms. This step was taken because the US-based company was considered to be in violation of Russian local laws. The Kremlin even openly encouraged citizens to switch to a state-owned messaging application called MAX.

"Because Meta's unwillingness to comply with Russian law, such a decision has indeed been made and implemented," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Peskov suggested that people use MAX as an alternative. According to him, the application is a national communication solution that is being developed by the government.

"MAX is an accessible alternative, a growing messenger, a national messenger, and available in the market for citizens as an alternative," he said.

The block is the culmination of six months of pressure on Meta. The move also reflects the Russian government's broader push to build "sovereign" communications infrastructure, especially amid a war situation, where foreign technology companies are required to comply with local laws or exit the Russian market.

Meta has previously been designated an extremist organization in Russia. WhatsApp has also complained about government efforts that it calls a total blocking measure.

"Today the Russian government is trying to completely block WhatsApp in an effort to push people to state-owned surveillance apps," WhatsApp said in a statement.

"Trying to isolate more than 100 million users from private and secure communications is a step backwards and will only lead to reduced safety for people in Russia," the statement continued.

A number of domain names associated with WhatsApp are reportedly missing from the Russian national domain registration list. As a result, devices in the country no longer receive the application's IP address. WhatsApp can now only be accessed through a virtual private network (VPN).

Russia's communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has not given an official response to a request for comment on the total block.

Previously, since August, Russian authorities have begun to restrict WhatsApp and other messaging services by blocking voice call features. The government accuses foreign platforms of not sharing information with law enforcement in cases of fraud and terrorism.

In December, Roskomnadzor announced a new gradual restriction on WhatsApp. The authorities accused the app of continuing to violate Russian law and being used "to organize and carry out terrorist acts on the territory of the country, recruit perpetrators, as well as commit fraud and other crimes."

Russian courts have also repeatedly fined WhatsApp for failing to remove content deemed prohibited. The government insists that companies must have a local representative office in Russia in order to operate legally, something Meta has not yet fulfilled.

On the other hand, the Russian government is actively promoting MAX, which integrates various government services in one application. Critics assess the application as a potential tool for monitoring users. However, the accusation was denied by the Russian authorities, who said MAX was designed to simplify and improve the quality of public services for citizens.

Since restrictions were tightened in December, many Russians can only access WhatsApp with a VPN or switch to other apps such as Telegram. However, Telegram is also under government pressure for similar reasons, namely compliance with national laws.