Whilst there are rumors of a possible ban on WhatsApp in Russia, here's a brief rundown of the situation.
In a significant move, Russia is set to ban WhatsApp, the country's most popular messaging app, according to multiple credible sources citing Kremlin insiders and Russian lawmakers. The decision is linked to Russia labeling Meta, the company behind WhatsApp, as an extremist organization.
The ban, which is expected to have a 99% chance of happening, is part of a broader crackdown by the Russian government on digital privacy tools that often aid in circumventing censorship. The move is aimed at controlling online messaging and maintaining a tight grip on the flow of information.
Deputy Head of the Russian parliament's Information Technology Committee, Anton Gorelkin, has publicly stated that WhatsApp should "prepare to leave the Russian market." This sentiment is particularly pushed by security forces who seek to curb social discontent.
To replace WhatsApp, a domestic app called Max, integrated with government services, is planned to be pre-installed on all new devices in Russia starting September 2025. This move signifies a shift towards replacing foreign messaging apps.
Legal and regulatory measures targeting WhatsApp and VPN use have also been introduced. As of late July 2025, Russia has passed additional laws to penalise online searches for extremist content and the use of VPNs. Using a VPN to access extremist content may become a crime with an aggravating factor.
No exact date or detailed enforcement method has been officially announced yet, but a government deadline to draft proposals for restricting software, including communication services like WhatsApp, was set for September 1, 2025. This suggests that a ban could be implemented shortly after that date.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that WhatsApp "has certain duties under laws of the Russian Federation" that must be fulfilled. Two government sources have confirmed to Meduza that there's a 99-percent chance the WhatsApp block will happen.
The Russian government is also investing over half a billion US dollars in its battle against VPN usage. Ever-sophisticated VPN blocking tactics have made many VPN services stop working, but this new investment is expected to intensify the crackdown on these tools.
Apple has been forced to remove some of the best VPN apps from its official App Store due to these restrictions. Meanwhile, Google is resisting demands from Russia to remove over 200 VPNs from the Play Store.
This potential ban of WhatsApp in Russia comes after the ban of Meta's other services, Facebook and Instagram, in 2022. The Kremlin has been trying to prevent the use of VPNs for a long time, and this latest move further complicates things for VPN users in Russia.
As WhatsApp prepares to potentially leave the Russian market, it remains to be seen how the population will respond to this move and whether Max will be able to fill the void left by the popular messaging app.
- The upcoming ban on WhatsApp, a popular messaging app in Russia, is part of a broader crackdown on technology that aids in circumventing censorship, including digital privacy tools and virtual private networks (VPNs).
- A domestic app, Max, integrated with government services, is planned to replace WhatsApp in Russia by 2025, signifying a shift towards replacing foreign messaging apps with technology controlled by the government.
- As the Russian government introduces strict measures to control technology, online entertainment, politics, and general news sources like social media and messaging apps, it remains uncertain how the population will respond to these changes and the impact on their digital privacy and access to information.
