Russia Bans WhatsApp Nationwide, Citing Legal Violations and Data Compliance Failures
The country’s communications regulator said the decision followed repeated warnings to the company regarding storage of user data and cooperation with Russian law enforcement. Officials described the move as enforcement of national legislation governing foreign technology firms. WhatsApp, widely used across Russia for personal and business communic
ation had remained accessible even after Facebook and Instagram were banned in 2022. Meta said it disagrees with the decision and emphasized its commitment to end-to-end encryption. The ban marks a further step in Moscow’s broader effort to tighten control over digital platforms operating within the country. Source: Reuters