Whatsapp faces the risk of being banned and delisted in Russia due to its failure to comply with the requirements set by the Russian government for legal operation within the country. State Duma Deputy Anton Nemkin, a member of the Duma’s Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology, and Communications, explained that the country cannot overlook the fact that millions of Russians trust their data to a foreign company controlled by a hostile government.

According to TASS, Nemkin stated:

The presence of such a service in Russia’s digital space is, in fact, a legal breach in national security. That is why including Whatsapp in the list of programs from unfriendly jurisdictions subject to restrictions is just a matter of time.

He noted that Whatsapp has not complied with any of the requirements from the current administration, failing to localize its data, open a local office, or show any transparency regarding the treatment of its users’ data. “This is unacceptable at a time when digital sovereignty is a matter of national security,” Nemkin stressed.

While Telegram might be an alternative to Whatsapp, provided that its representatives show the intention to adapt to the country’s regulations, Nemkin states that the upcoming state-sponsored messaging platform Max would be a key player in the upcoming digital arena.

“This platform was created with a view to integrate with public services, digital certificates, e-signature, and legally significant communication. And the messenger’s basic functionality includes business accounts, which is especially important for entrepreneurs who will need to switch from WhatsApp,” Nemkin explained.

Meta has been put on the list of extremist companies in the country, and its activities have been prohibited since 2022.

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