WhatsApp* messenger could be blocked in Russia for six months.
This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications Andrei Svintsov.
— I certainly acknowledge the possibility of blocking WhatsApp* in Russia. And I think this could happen within four to six months. There are many instant messengers on the market. Viber used to be very popular but now no one even remembers it. So I think WhatsApp* is also a service that will be forgotten six months after leaving Russia,” the congressman shared.
According to him, the blocking of the messaging application is due to its creators' refusal to cooperate with Russia. Svintsov added that WhatsApp* is the property of Meta*, which stores data of Russians outside the Russian Federation and uses it against the country.
“So this is absolutely a very serious matter and certain restrictions will gradually be applied,” Svintsov summarized in a conversation with News.ru.
State Duma Deputy and member of the information policy committee Anton Nemkin also believes that blocking the WhatsApp* messaging application in Russia is just time problem.
WhatsApp* users in Moscow reported problems with the messenger
Back on October 22, Roskomnadzor reported that Restrict some work WhatsApp* and Telegram to defend against attackers. Do these restrictions mean the messenger will soon may be blocked in Russia, “Moscow Evening” discussed with cybersecurity expert Alexey Lukatsky.
*Part of the Meta group, considered extremist and banned in Russia.
