Russia Bans WhatsApp in Push for State-Controlled Messaging App

Russia has removed WhatsApp from its official internet directory, effectively erasing the Meta-owned platform from the country's digital landscape. The app, which boasted over 100 million users in Russia, is now inaccessible without a VPN. The MOVE follows months of gradual restrictions, including disabled voice calls last summer and severe performance degradation, leading to a 70-80% drop in usage by December.

Facebook and Instagram, already labeled as "extremist," were also purged from the registry. YouTube remains technically available but suffers from deliberate throttling. The crackdown coincides with Russia's promotion of Max, a state-backed messaging app operated by VKontakte—a social media giant with ties to President Vladimir Putin. Unlike WhatsApp, Max lacks encryption, granting authorities unfettered access to user communications.

Meta condemned the ban as a forced migration to government surveillance tools. The escalation underscores Russia's tightening grip on digital infrastructure amid geopolitical tensions.