Russia bans WhatsApp, pushes state-backed alternative

Rights campaigners say restrictions on messaging apps are a transparent attempt to ramp up control and surveillance.Published On 12 Feb 2026Russia has blocked messaging service WhatsApp over alleged legal breaches, urging users to switch to a state-backed alternative in what is widely seen as a bid to clamp down on free speech amid the war in Ukraine.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced the move on Thursday, attributing it to WhatsApp’s “reluctance to comply with the norms and letter of Russian law”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Russia evacuates tourists from Cuba as US-engineered fuel crisis deepenslist 2 of 3Russian strike kills father, 3 children in Ukraine, wounds pregnant motherlist 3 of 3Russia says it will stick to limits of expired nuclear treaty if US doesend of listHe advised Russians to turn instead to MAX, a state-sponsored platform touted as a one-stop shop for messaging, online government services and other services like making payments.Experts warn that MAX, which openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request, does not use the end-to-end encryption that ensures messages remain private on popular services like WhatsApp, leaving users vulnerable to state snooping.Last year, Russia began limiting some calls on WhatsApp, owned by US social media giant Meta, and on Telegram, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of refusing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and “terrorism” cases.But rights campaigners like Amnesty, which this week hit out at the Kremlin’s continued limits on Telegram, say restrictions on messaging apps are a transparent attempt to ramp up control and surveillance.“As usual, Russian authorities are resorting to the bluntest instrument in their digital repression toolbox: censorship and obstruction under the guise of protecting people’s rights and interests,” said the group in a statement on Tuesday.A WhatsApp spokesperson said on Wednesday that the company was doing “everything we can” to keep users connected.