Russia Bans WhatsApp as Government Pushes State-Backed Messaging App 'Max'

WhatsApp has stopped working in Russia following what appears to be a coordinated government crackdown. As reported by the Financial Times and Reuters, Meta’s messaging service was removed from Russia’s internet regulator directory on Feb. 11, and access was reportedly halted for users shortly after.

The ban came just days after Telegram began experiencing service slowdowns across the country, especially affecting media downloads. Meanwhile, Meta accused the Russian government of attempting to force users onto a state-backed alternative called Max.

In a statement to the Financial Times, a company spokesperson said the move was aimed at pushing citizens toward “a state-owned surveillance app,” adding that cutting off over 100 million users from secure communication would reduce safety rather than enhance it.

Meanwhile, a Kremlin spokesperson told the BBC that WhatsApp could resume operations if Meta complies with domestic law and enters into dialogue. Facebook and Instagram were banned in 2022 after Meta was labeled an organization involved in “extremist activities,” though WhatsApp had remained accessible until now.

State representatives described Max as an “accessible alternative” already available to citizens. While officials did not explicitly confirm that WhatsApp’s removal was intended to drive adoption, Max has been preinstalled on all phones sold in Russia since last year and reportedly counts over 55 million users.

Telegram, meanwhile, has denied wrongdoing after users reported performance degradation. CEO Pavel Durov accused Russia of restricting access to push people toward state-controlled tools. Signal was blocked in 2024, and some users now report YouTube throttling as well, though the Kremlin has not confirmed any action there.

At a time when digital sovereignty is increasingly prioritized, Russia appears to be controlling foreign social media platforms.