Russia said Friday it was considering banning popular messaging service WhatsApp, accusing it of failing to prevent crime, and urged its tens of millions of users to switch to domestic alternatives.
US technology giant Meta, which owns WhatsApp, said Russia was trying to ban the application because it “defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication”.
Russia blocked users from making calls on the platform in August, part of a broader crackdown on Western-owned social media that critics say is designed to tighten government control over the internet.
In a statement on Friday, Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said it could ban the application “completely” unless it complied fully with Russian law.