WhatsApp has accused Russian authorities of deliberately blocking its voice and video calling features, warning that millions of users are losing access to a core form of encrypted communication. The messaging giant says the move is part of a broader strategy by Moscow to tighten control over the country’s digital space and push citizens toward state-approved platforms.
The disruption, affecting users across Russia, has fueled concerns over growing restrictions on private communication and the state’s increasing power to monitor online activity. Although text messages and other app functions remain largely intact, the loss of real-time, end-to-end encrypted calls marks a significant escalation in Russia’s campaign for “internet sovereignty.”
A Deliberate Clampdown on Encrypted Communication
Over the past several days, Russian WhatsApp users have reported persistent failures in making voice and video calls. The company has confirmed the issue, attributing it to deliberate interference rather than technical problems. By targeting calls—while leaving messaging intact—Moscow avoids an outright ban but removes one of the most secure and private forms of communication available to the public.
The Russian government has defended its digital policies by citing national security needs, arguing that foreign-owned encrypted services make it harder to investigate crimes such as terrorism and fraud. Officials insist these platforms must either comply with domestic laws—often requiring data access—or face restrictions.
A Push Toward State-Controlled Alternatives
The clampdown comes alongside a major government drive to promote MAX, a homegrown messaging platform integrated with state services. Authorities have encouraged politicians, media outlets, and public figures to shift their activity to MAX, presenting it as a safe and reliable domestic solution. Critics, however, say the app lacks strong encryption and is vulnerable to government surveillance, making it a tool for tighter state oversight.
In practice, the government appears to be combining two tactics: limiting the usability of foreign apps and offering a state-approved alternative. This gradual approach pressures citizens to migrate without the political backlash that a full ban might provoke.
The loss of WhatsApp calling has hit a range of everyday activities. Families separated by distance are struggling to maintain regular video contact. Small businesses, NGOs, and health professionals who depend on secure calls for operations face reduced efficiency and increased exposure to potential data monitoring.
In some cities, taxi drivers have reported losing rides because they can no longer receive calls from customers through WhatsApp. Local businesses that coordinate through group calls are reverting to less secure channels, often at the expense of privacy.
For millions of ordinary users, the change has not only disrupted communication but also signaled a broader erosion of digital freedoms.
A Long-Brewing Digital Strategy
This is not Russia’s first step toward isolating its internet space. Since 2022, the government has steadily rolled out measures to reduce dependence on foreign platforms. These include laws requiring foreign tech companies to store user data on Russian servers, the blocking of several Western social networks, and heavy promotion of domestic apps and services.
The WhatsApp restrictions are the latest in a sequence of actions aimed at asserting state control over online communications. By targeting encrypted calls, Moscow is weakening one of the most robust privacy protections still available to its citizens.
Russia’s move mirrors trends in other countries seeking to establish “sovereign internet” systems—China’s Great Firewall and Iran’s national network being notable examples. In each case, authorities have restricted foreign platforms while building domestic ecosystems that they can more easily monitor and regulate.
The result is a fragmented internet where national boundaries dictate access to services, breaking the global flow of information that the web once promised.
WhatsApp says it will explore technical solutions to restore calling capabilities, but the success of such efforts remains uncertain under Russia’s tight regulatory regime. Digital rights advocates warn that once such restrictions are in place, reversing them is rare without significant political change.
Meanwhile, more Russians may reluctantly switch to MAX or other local platforms, further embedding the state’s control over digital communications. If the trend continues, encrypted real-time conversation could become a rarity in Russia—replaced by monitored, state-sanctioned channels.
For now, the millions affected are caught between the desire for privacy and the reality of a tightening digital grip, with fewer and fewer options left for secure communication.
(Source:www.theguardian.com)
The disruption, affecting users across Russia, has fueled concerns over growing restrictions on private communication and the state’s increasing power to monitor online activity. Although text messages and other app functions remain largely intact, the loss of real-time, end-to-end encrypted calls marks a significant escalation in Russia’s campaign for “internet sovereignty.”
A Deliberate Clampdown on Encrypted Communication
Over the past several days, Russian WhatsApp users have reported persistent failures in making voice and video calls. The company has confirmed the issue, attributing it to deliberate interference rather than technical problems. By targeting calls—while leaving messaging intact—Moscow avoids an outright ban but removes one of the most secure and private forms of communication available to the public.
The Russian government has defended its digital policies by citing national security needs, arguing that foreign-owned encrypted services make it harder to investigate crimes such as terrorism and fraud. Officials insist these platforms must either comply with domestic laws—often requiring data access—or face restrictions.
A Push Toward State-Controlled Alternatives
The clampdown comes alongside a major government drive to promote MAX, a homegrown messaging platform integrated with state services. Authorities have encouraged politicians, media outlets, and public figures to shift their activity to MAX, presenting it as a safe and reliable domestic solution. Critics, however, say the app lacks strong encryption and is vulnerable to government surveillance, making it a tool for tighter state oversight.
In practice, the government appears to be combining two tactics: limiting the usability of foreign apps and offering a state-approved alternative. This gradual approach pressures citizens to migrate without the political backlash that a full ban might provoke.
The loss of WhatsApp calling has hit a range of everyday activities. Families separated by distance are struggling to maintain regular video contact. Small businesses, NGOs, and health professionals who depend on secure calls for operations face reduced efficiency and increased exposure to potential data monitoring.
In some cities, taxi drivers have reported losing rides because they can no longer receive calls from customers through WhatsApp. Local businesses that coordinate through group calls are reverting to less secure channels, often at the expense of privacy.
For millions of ordinary users, the change has not only disrupted communication but also signaled a broader erosion of digital freedoms.
A Long-Brewing Digital Strategy
This is not Russia’s first step toward isolating its internet space. Since 2022, the government has steadily rolled out measures to reduce dependence on foreign platforms. These include laws requiring foreign tech companies to store user data on Russian servers, the blocking of several Western social networks, and heavy promotion of domestic apps and services.
The WhatsApp restrictions are the latest in a sequence of actions aimed at asserting state control over online communications. By targeting encrypted calls, Moscow is weakening one of the most robust privacy protections still available to its citizens.
Russia’s move mirrors trends in other countries seeking to establish “sovereign internet” systems—China’s Great Firewall and Iran’s national network being notable examples. In each case, authorities have restricted foreign platforms while building domestic ecosystems that they can more easily monitor and regulate.
The result is a fragmented internet where national boundaries dictate access to services, breaking the global flow of information that the web once promised.
WhatsApp says it will explore technical solutions to restore calling capabilities, but the success of such efforts remains uncertain under Russia’s tight regulatory regime. Digital rights advocates warn that once such restrictions are in place, reversing them is rare without significant political change.
Meanwhile, more Russians may reluctantly switch to MAX or other local platforms, further embedding the state’s control over digital communications. If the trend continues, encrypted real-time conversation could become a rarity in Russia—replaced by monitored, state-sanctioned channels.
For now, the millions affected are caught between the desire for privacy and the reality of a tightening digital grip, with fewer and fewer options left for secure communication.
(Source:www.theguardian.com)