MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s state communications watchdog threatened on Friday to completely block WhatsApp if it does not comply with Russian law, news agencies reported.
In August, Russia began limiting some calls on Meta-owned WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of refusing to share information with law enforcement in cases of fraud and terrorism.
This Friday, the watchdog Roskomnadzor again accused WhatsApp of failing to comply with Russian requirements aimed at preventing and combating crime.
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“If the messaging service continues to fail to comply with the requirements of Russian legislation, it will be completely blocked,” the Interfax news agency said.
WhatsApp accuses Moscow of trying to block millions of Russians from accessing secure communication.
Russian authorities are promoting a rival state-backed app called MAX, which critics say could be used to track users. State media called these accusations false.
