Russia Moves to Ban WhatsApp Nationwide Over Security Concerns

The Russian government is reportedly preparing to implement a nationwide ban on WhatsApp, citing growing national security concerns. Lawmakers and senior officials have raised alarms over the messaging platform’s encryption system and its alleged potential for misuse by foreign intelligence services.

Russian authorities argue that WhatsApp, owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), poses a serious threat to internal communication systems and has failed to comply with Russia’s data localization laws. Officials claim the app’s servers are hosted outside the country, making it difficult to regulate user data and protect national interests.

This is not the first time Russia has clamped down on foreign social media or messaging apps. In the past, platforms like LinkedIn and Telegram faced restrictions under similar claims. The potential WhatsApp ban could impact millions of users, forcing many Russians to switch to locally approved alternatives

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