For Russians, the app ‘defies government attempts to violate people’s rights to secure communication’
The communications regulator said this Friday (28) that it is considering banning the popular messaging app, which it accused of not doing enough to prevent criminal activity.
The American technology giant, which owns WhatsApp, said Russia is trying to ban the app because it “defies government attempts to violate people’s rights to secure communication.”
Russian authorities urge their citizens to use state-backed applications and, in August, they had already blocked the possibility of making calls via WhatsApp.
Regulatory body Roskomnadzor said on Friday that the platform was being used to “organize and carry out terrorist acts in the country, recruit their perpetrators and for fraud and other crimes”.
“If the messaging app does not comply with Russian legislation, it will be completely blocked,” the entity said in its statement. WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging services in Russia, along with Telegram.
Moscow wants both platforms to give access to their data if requested by law enforcement agencies to investigate fraud and activities that Russia describes as “terrorist”.
Human rights activists fear this could be used to attack critics of the Kremlin, the president or the war in Russia.
*With information from AFP
Published by Nátaly Tenório
