With the Russia-Ukraine war ongoing, President Trump is preparing to meet President Putin in Alaska on August 15th. However, before the meeting, Russia has taken action against WhatsApp. Here’s a breakdown of the situation.
WhatsApp accuses Russia of trying to prevent secure communication for many Russian citizens. They claim Russia is blocking calls on the messaging app to promote its own social media and control the internet.
Russia has stated it is blocking some calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. They claim these apps aren’t providing necessary information to the police in cases of fraud and terrorism.
It is important to clarify that text and voice notes on WhatsApp remain unaffected. This follows other actions by Russia, including banning Facebook and Instagram, and slowing down YouTube.
WhatsApp states it offers private, end-to-end encryption, rejecting government attempts to limit secure communication. Therefore, Russia is trying to block it for many users. They pledge to continue providing secure communication globally.
Telegram states its moderators use AI tools to monitor public chats and remove dangerous messages. They actively combat those promoting violence and fraud.
The restrictions arrive as the government promotes a new app, “MAX.” Critics worry this app could be used for surveillance. Officials are urging users to switch to MAX.
Russia has previously weakened services gradually. A Human Rights Watch report notes Russia is creating laws to establish a strictly controlled internet. A new law will further tighten censorship, penalizing individuals seeking content Russia deems extremist, even with VPNs.