September 20, 2023

The End of WhatsApp in Russia?


The End of WhatsApp in Russia?
WhatsApp installed on a phone. Dimitri Karastelev, Unsplash.

Russian lawmakers have proposed restricting access to WhatsApp, a popular and secure messaging app, in response to the platform's newly introduced "channels" feature.

WhatsApp's latest update, released on September 13, piloted its new "channel" function in over 150 countries. A multitude of organizations, sports teams, artists, and influential figures have begun establishing their channels. In a few months, this feature will become accessible to all users. 

"If the product of the extremist company Meta begins to expand the functionality towards the mass dissemination of information, the official position regarding its activities in the territory of the Russian Federation may be revised," said Anton Gorelkin, a State Duma deputy.

Viktor Bondarev, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, said he believes that the introduction of WhatsApp channels may transform the platform into a tool for information warfare and a breeding ground for disinformation regarding Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

Mikhail Klimarev, president of Russia's Internet Protection Society, said individuals whose WhatsApp accounts are tied to mobile numbers starting with the country code +7 will not be able to access these channels. In other words, people living in Russia and Kazakhstan would be blocked from the feature.

WhatsApp is a subsidiary of Meta, which was designated as an "extremist organization" in March 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This led to the banning of Facebook and Instagram in the country. However, WhatsApp, which securely encrypts messages, remained unaffected by the restrictions.

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