Russia Labels WhatsApp A National Security Threat, Pushes For Local Alternative

Abdullah Hussain (@Abdulla99267510) Published July 19, 2025 | 04:15 PM

Russia will develop a state-supported messaging app named "MAX", which will be integrated with government services

MOSCOW: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-July 19^th, 2025) Russian lawmakers have declared WhatsApp, the world’s most widely used messaging platform owned by Meta, a threat to national security. The announcement follows recent legislation signed by President Vladimir Putin aimed at reducing the country's reliance on foreign digital platforms.

Under the new law, Russia will develop a state-supported messaging app named "MAX", which will be integrated with government services. This initiative is part of Moscow's broader strategy to limit the use of foreign apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, seen as potentially undermining national interests.

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Anton Gorelkin, stated, “It is time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market.” He emphasized that Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has already been labeled an extremist organization in Russia, and continued use of its services could compromise national security.

Gorelkin added that around 68% of Russians currently use WhatsApp, and its withdrawal from the market could allow the new app MAX to gain significant user share. Russian officials argue that foreign messaging services operating within the country must comply with domestic laws and regulations or face expulsion.

The move aligns with Russia's broader clampdown on Western digital platforms.

Meta’s other platforms, Facebook and Instagram, have already been banned in Russia since 2022.

With the development of MAX, Russia aims to create a secure, homegrown alternative that supports state oversight and digital sovereignty in an increasingly divided global tech landscape.