Russia to Restrict Foreign Messaging Apps Amid Concerns of Unrest
Following a directive from President Vladimir Putin, Russia is developing new restrictions on foreign messaging apps and software originating from “unfriendly countries.” This initiative aims to lessen Russia’s reliance on technologies from nations perceived as hostile. WhatsApp, owned by the Meta organization, is considered a likely target for blocking, having been declared an “extremist organization” in 2022. Meanwhile, Russian officials have been mandated to use Max, a messenger app with extensive surveillance capabilities that automatically transmits user data to servers linked to the Russian social network VK.
John Q. Hosedrinker