Russia Blocks WhatsApp for Non-Compliance with Laws

Russia has blocked the popular messaging service WhatsApp for failing to comply with Russian law, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the decision was due to “WhatsApp’s unwillingness to comply with the rules and the letter of Russian law.” This move is part of a broader effort by Russia to increase control over the internet and impose its own rules on technology companies. Russian law requires companies to store user data on Russian servers and provide authorities with access to that data. WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has not yet commented on the ban. The ban could affect millions of Russian users who use the app for communication. Russia has already blocked or restricted access to other popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.