WhatsApp Says Russia Attempts to Block Service for more than 100 Million Users

WhatsApp, owned by U.S. tech giant Meta, accused Russian authorities of attempting to block its services for more than 100 million users in the country, citing the app’s refusal to weaken its end-to-end encryption standards.

In a statement, the company stressed that WhatsApp “is private, end-to-end encrypted, and will challenge any government’s attempt to undermine people’s right to secure communication.” It pledged to “do everything possible to keep this encrypted service available to everyone, including users in Russia.”

The remarks come after Moscow began restricting certain calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing foreign platforms of failing to cooperate with law enforcement on cases related to fraud and terrorism. The move underscores a deepening standoff between Western technology companies and the Russian government, which is tightening control over information flows within its borders.

The dispute is part of a broader pattern in Russia’s digital landscape, where platforms such as Telegram, Google, and YouTube have previously faced blocks or heavy restrictions under laws aimed at monitoring online content and user data.

For WhatsApp, holding the line on encryption is both a privacy principle and a brand statement, even at the risk of losing market share in Russia.