Russia Moves to Ban WhatsApp over National Security Concerns

In a major escalation of its digital sovereignty campaign, Russia is preparing to ban WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by U.S.-based Meta, citing national security concerns and its association with "hostile nations."

Anton Gorelkin, deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma's Information Technology Committee, stated on Saturday that WhatsApp is on the verge of being added to the country’s official blacklist of prohibited applications. His comments, reported by Reuters, reflect a broader push to eliminate foreign software linked to governments that have imposed sanctions on Moscow.

Meta has already been designated a "terrorist and extremist organization" in Russia, leading to the blocking of Facebook and Instagram since 2022. The looming ban on WhatsApp follows a recent directive from President Vladimir Putin urging stricter regulations on foreign technology platforms, particularly those from so-called “unfriendly” states.

As part of this initiative, Russia has given tech companies until September 1 to comply with the new national standards or face expulsion from the market.

In June, Putin signed a law supporting the development of a state-controlled messaging app integrated with Russian government services. The move is part of a wider effort to foster domestic technological self-sufficiency, especially after a mass exodus of Western firms in the wake of the Ukraine invasion.

Gorelkin emphasized that banning WhatsApp would also help bolster the adoption of the new state-backed app, increasing its market share and cementing local alternatives in Russia’s digital ecosystem.