Russia’s federal communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has threatened to block the messaging app WhatsApp across Russia. This Friday (28/11), the organization stated again that Meta – responsible for the application – does not comply with the rules stipulated in the country’s legislation.
Roskomnadzor claims the platform is being used in Russia “to organize and carry out terrorist acts in the country, recruit perpetrators of fraud and other crimes.”
“If the messaging application does not comply with Russian legislation, it will be completely blocked,” the statement read.
Meta denies violating Russian legislation and claims that the Kremlin is trying to “violate people’s rights to secure communications.”
Read also
-
world
Russia says it has received the initial version of the peace plan in Ukraine
-
world
Putin: The war may end “soon” as long as Russia achieves its goals
-
Sports
Estévão’s top scorer and Borussia’s display: Watch the champions’ results
-
world
Zelensky makes a new appeal to Trump: “Russia takes US power seriously”
In August this year, the Russian government decided to restrict voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, arguing that this was a way to “fight criminals.”
According to Russian authorities, calls made on the apps have been used by criminals to carry out fraud operations in the country, in addition to being a means to involve citizens in “subversive and terrorist activities.”
In Russia, the most famous messaging applications are WhatsApp from the American company Meta, and Telegram, which was founded by Russians. The Kremlin advises against using both applications and requires the responsible companies to provide data for investigations.
Vladimir Putin’s government has begun promoting a new messaging app called MAX, which has been accused of providing user tracking data to the Kremlin.