Russia Signals Final Warning to WhatsApp over National Security Concerns
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Russian lawmakers declared WhatsApp a security threat, urging the US-controlled platform to prepare for exit as Moscow accelerates its digital sovereignty strategy.
WhatsApp’s continued presence in Russia poses a direct threat to national security, a senior Russian lawmaker stated Friday, warning that the Meta-owned platform is likely to be added to a list of restricted software.
Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma’s Committee on Information Policy, said: “The fate of WhatsApp in Russia is sealed. This messenger is owned by Meta, an organization recognized as extremist and outlawed in our country.”
He told TASS that allowing WhatsApp to operate within Russia’s digital infrastructure amounts to “a legal breach in national security.”
Nemkin noted that WhatsApp has refused to comply with Russian law by failing to localize data, register a legal entity, or provide operational transparency. “This is unacceptable at a time when digital sovereignty is a matter of national security,” he said.
Russia’s drive to minimize dependency on foreign software intensified after President Vladimir Putin signed a new law last month authorizing the development of a state-backed messaging platform, MAX, integrated with public services.
Nemkin emphasized that Telegram could remain a viable alternative, provided it fully adheres to Russian legislation. However, he noted the long-term solution lies with MAX, which was “created with integration into national services, digital certification, and business functionality in mind.”
“We must abandon the illusion that foreign apps will ever serve Russian interests,” Nemkin stated. “WhatsApp is not a neutral tool — it’s an instrument of foreign influence and a point of vulnerability.”
His remarks were echoed by Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the Duma’s information technology committee, who said: “It’s time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market.”
Gorelkin pointed to a directive from Putin ordering new restrictions on software from “unfriendly countries,” with a compliance deadline of September 1.
“WhatsApp will likely be among those targeted,” he added.
Russia has already designated Meta Platforms Inc. — the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram — as an extremist organization. Facebook and Instagram have been banned in Russia since 2022.
The Kremlin has made clear that any platform operating in Russia must comply with domestic law. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated: “All services must abide by Russian legislation.”
Meta did not comment on the statements.
