Russia confirms ban on WhatsApp, urging its 100 million users to switch to the domestic Max messenger service.

MOSCOW: Russia has officially blocked the popular messaging service WhatsApp over its failure to comply with local legislation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the decision and urged the app’s estimated 100 million Russian users to switch to the domestic alternative, Max.

“As for the blocking of WhatsApp… such a decision was indeed made and implemented,” Peskov told reporters.

He said the move was due to WhatsApp’s “reluctance to comply with the norms and letter of Russian law”.

The US-owned app, part of Meta, said it believed Russia was attempting a full block to force users onto Max.

“We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected,” a WhatsApp statement said.

Moscow has for months promoted Max, a domestic service that lacks end-to-end encryption.

Critics and rights campaigners call the restrictions a transparent attempt to ramp up state control and surveillance over internet use.

Russia’s internet watchdog also said it would impose “phased restrictions” on the Telegram platform for similar alleged non-compliance.

 The Sun Malaysia