WhatsApp ban in Russia? Messaging app says Moscow tried to 'fully block' app — Here's what happens next

WhatsApp on 11 February said the Russian government has tried to “fully block” its services in the country, in order to promote a state-sponsored “super” app called Max, Bloomberg reported.

According to The Financial Times, millions of people were “abruptly cut off from WhatsApp”. The Meta Platforms-owned messaging app said it is doing everything to keep over 100 million users connected, the report added.

What is Russia's “super app” Max?

The report said that Moscow has shifted focus to promote a state-run “super-app” called Max, which has been modelled after China’s WeChat. Max hosts government services and enables document storage, banking and other public and commercial programs, the report added. It also provides the usual services — messages, sending money, audio and video calls.

As per Reuters, critics worry that Max could be used to track users, while state media have dismissed those accusations as false. Notably, Max was developed by VKontakte (VK), co-founded by Pavel Durov (owner of Telegram), before he sold his shares and left Russia in 2014. VK is now state-owned.

According to CNN, the Russian government has mandated that smartphone companies pre-install the app in mobile phones and tablets sold in the country.

Russia moves to edge out foreign messaging apps

The push comes at a time when the Russian government has cut off access to foreign messaging apps in the country. Besides WhatsApp, the services of the Telegram messaging app have also been limited in the northern country.

On 11 February, Moscow announced that it is restricting access to Telegram for the “protection of Russian citizens” and accused the app of refusing to block content which authorities considered "criminal and terrorist.”

Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, planned to limit access to the app this week, the RBC news service reported, citing people familiar with the situation, but it didn’t identify them, the Bloomberg report added.

Telegram is also facing a fine of 64 million rubles ($8,28,000) after it allegedly refused to remove restricted content from the platform and failed to self-regulate, according to state news agency TASS News.

Roskomnadzor also blocked Apple's video-calling app FaceTime in December, the Reuters report added.

What's next for WhatsApp in Russia? Official says…

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told TASS that WhatsApp's return in Russia would depend on whether it complies with regulatory requirements.

Speaking to the agency on 11 February, Peskov said, “This is again a question of fulfilling the legislation. If the Meta corporation fulfils this and enters into dialogue with Russian authorities, then we have the possibility of reaching an agreement. If the corporation (Meta) sticks to an uncompromising position and, I would say, shows itself unready to align with Russian legislation, then there is no chance.”

Kremlin did not immediately respond to queries from Reuters.

(With inputs from Agencies)