WhatsApp alleges Russian Government attempted to ban application
Summary
Meta-owned WhatsApp alleges that the Russian Government attempted to block its messaging application to push users towards a state-owned surveillance app, amid claims of non-compliance with Russian laws and accusations of WhatsApp enabling criminal activities.
Key Points
- Meta-owned WhatsApp alleges Russian Government tried to fully block WhatsApp in Russia to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app.
- Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated WhatsApp will be unblocked if Meta complies with Russian laws and engages in dialogue.
- Russia's telecom watchdog confirmed taking measures to slow down WhatsApp citing violations including its use for organizing terrorist activities and fraud.
- Telegram founder Pavel Durov accused Russia of restricting Telegram to force citizens onto a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship.
