Russia Forces 100M Users Off WhatsApp to State 'Surveillance App

100 million Russians woke up Thursday to find their WhatsApp blocked. The Kremlin's message was clear: use our state-backed messenger Max instead, or lose access to encrypted communication altogether.

The Kremlin's 'Alternative'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov framed it as consumer choice. "Max is an accessible alternative, a developing messenger, a national messenger," he told reporters. But WhatsApp wasn't buying the sales pitch.

"Today the Russian government attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app," WhatsApp fired back on X. The company called the move "backwards" and warned it "can only lead to less safety for people in Russia."

The stakes couldn't be higher. WhatsApp's 100 million Russian users now face a stark choice: accept state surveillance or find workarounds to maintain private communication.

Data Sovereignty or Digital Control?

Russia's telecom watchdog Roskomnadzor justifies the crackdown with two legal requirements: messaging apps must store Russian user data inside the country and implement measures to prevent criminal or terrorist use.

On paper, it sounds reasonable. In practice, critics see something far more sinister: an attempt to control the narrative around the Ukraine war and monitor public criticism of the government.

Telegram, despite being founded by Russian developers, hasn't escaped scrutiny either. Users have reported sluggish performance since January, and the Dubai-based company faces the same compliance pressures as WhatsApp.

The Broader Pattern

This isn't Russia's first rodeo with Western tech platforms. The country has systematically pushed users toward domestic alternatives it can more easily control and monitor. The pattern is clear: create legal justifications, apply technical restrictions, then offer state-backed "solutions."

"It's a shame the company isn't complying, but there's a law that must be followed," Peskov said about Telegram's resistance. The subtext: comply with our surveillance demands or face the consequences.