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Thursday, February 12, 2026
Russia blocks WhatsApp texting platform in favor of state-backed alternative
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Russia has attempted to fully block WhatsApp in the country, the company says, the latest move in an ongoing government effort to tighten control over the internet.
The Kremlin confirms that Russia has blocked the messaging service, owned by tech giant Meta, and suggests that people use MAX, a new state-backed platform, instead.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said late yesterday that the Russian authorities’ action was intended to “drive users to a state-owned surveillance app,” a reference to MAX, which is seen by critics as a surveillance tool.
“Trying to isolate over 100 million people from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia,” the WhatsApp spokesperson said. “We continue to do everything we can to keep people connected.”
Russia’s government has already blocked major social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the latter two also owned by Meta, and ramped up other online restrictions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Meta should comply with Russian law to see it unblocked, according to the state Tass news agency.
Authorities had previously restricted access to WhatsApp before moving to finally ban it yesterday.
Authorities have actively promoted MAX. The platform, touted by developers and officials as a one-stop shop for messaging, online government services, making payments and more, openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request. Experts also say it doesn’t use end-to-end encryption.
The Times of Israel Community.