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Russia Warns of Full WhatsApp Ban

By  |  November 29, 2025

Russia’s state communications regulator has issued a sharp warning that WhatsApp could face a total shutdown nationwide if it does not comply with domestic security and data-sharing laws, according to Reuters. The threat marks the latest turn in a widening dispute between Moscow and foreign technology platforms over control of user information and market dominance.

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    The watchdog, Roskomnadzor, said on Friday that WhatsApp — owned by Meta Platforms — is still not meeting requirements tied to crime prevention and cooperation with authorities. Per Reuters, the agency stressed that continued non-compliance would force regulators to take more drastic action, including cutting access to the service entirely. It reiterated the warning carried by Interfax, which quoted the regulator stating: “If the messaging service continues to fail to meet the demands of Russian legislation, it will be completely blocked.”

    Russia already began restricting certain WhatsApp calls in August, alongside similar curbs on Telegram. At the time, officials accused both foreign-controlled platforms of refusing to share information needed for investigations into fraud and terrorism, according to Reuters.

    The dispute has also spilled into the competitive landscape of messaging services in Russia. Authorities are actively promoting a state-backed alternative known as MAX, a move analysts view as an effort to capture market share from dominant foreign rivals. Critics have raised concerns that the government-supported service could provide tools to track users’ communications — allegations dismissed as baseless in state media reports.

    WhatsApp has pushed back on Russia’s tightening approach, warning that the crackdown risks shutting off millions of citizens from secure digital communication, per Reuters.

    Source: Reuters