• Russia has officially blocked WhatsApp for non-compliance with local laws, affecting over 100 million users.
• The government is promoting MAX, a state-backed messaging service claimed to enhance surveillance.
• WhatsApp calls the ban a "backwards step," compromising user safety and privacy.
• The ban follows rising tensions between foreign tech platforms and Moscow since the Ukraine invasion.
• Kremlin spokesperson confirmed the decision, stating compliance is necessary for service restoration.

Russia has confirmed its decision to block WhatsApp, a messaging service owned by Meta, citing the platform's failure to comply with local legislation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, "The decision was due to WhatsApp's reluctance to comply with the norms and letter of Russian law," urging users to consider the domestic alternative, MAX, which has been characterized as a "national messenger." The transition to MAX is part of a broader attempt to increase digital control and surveillance within the country, as reported by Reuters and BBC.

WhatsApp has reacted sharply, stating that Russia's actions aim to "isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication," which they argue could endanger personal safety. The messaging platform emphasized in a post on social media that this move is a "backwards step," which hands over control to a state-owned surveillance apparatus, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.

In an effort to facilitate this transition, Moscow has mandated that all new devices sold in Russia come pre-installed with the MAX app. This app is not only a messaging service but also integrates various governmental and personal services, allowing Russian authorities increased access to user data while lacking end-to-end encryption. Critics have sounded alarms over privacy concerns, comparing it to China's WeChat, as detailed by Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

The ban on WhatsApp follows a pattern of increasing restrictions on digital communication platforms since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Russian authorities have already implemented limitations on other services such as Telegram, labeling it a threat to national security and accusing it of not complying with local regulations. The situation reflects a broader strategy of censorship and control by the Kremlin, reported by India Times and CBS News.