WhatsApp Faces Potential Ban in Russia Following Viber Messenger

WhatsApp, one of the most widely used messaging platforms in the world, may soon face a ban in Russia, according to Russian media on December 20.

The Russian communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has listed WhatsApp as a service required to store user data on local servers and share it with state security agencies, including the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the police.

According to Russian state media, Roskomnadzor has taken initial steps toward restricting WhatsApp, adding the platform to a registry of organizations mandated to share data. The Russian government has also accused WhatsApp of being a tool for "extremist groups."

Despite these demands, experts suggest that WhatsApp is unlikely to comply, given that its parent company, Meta, is classified as an "extremist organization" in Russia. Meta’s other major platforms, Instagram and Facebook, were banned in 2022, and WhatsApp remains the sole operational service under its umbrella in the country.

This development comes as part of a broader crackdown on digital platforms in Russia. The government has intensified its control over online communications, targeting platforms that fail to align with its stringent data-sharing and storage laws.

Earlier in December, Viber faced a block in Russia under similar circumstances.