Russia on Tuesday attempted to block social media platform WhatsApp and Telegram to promote its home-grown platforms and seek greater control over its internet space.In a statement, WhatsApp said that the move will isolate over 100 million users, claiming that the step can “only lead to less safety for people.”“Today the Russian government attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app. Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia,” WhatsApp said in a post on X.“We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected,” it added.Meanwhile, Telegram founder said that the “authoritarian move” won’t the company’s course.“Russia is restricting access to Telegram to force its citizens onto a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship. This authoritarian move won’t change our course,” Pavel Durov said.“Telegram stands for freedom and privacy, no matter the pressure,” he added.This comes after foreign tech providers and Moscow landed in a dispute following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities are pushing a state-backed rival app called ‘MAX’, which critics claim could be used to track users.However, state media have dismissed those accusations as false.When asked if WhatsApp would return to Russia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “This is again a question of fulfilling the legislation. If the Meta corporation fulfils this and enters into dialogue with Russian authorities, then we have the possibility of reaching an agreement.”“If the corporation (Meta) sticks to an uncompromising position and, I would say, shows itself unready to align with Russian legislation, then there is no chance,” he told TASS in a video published by the state news agency on Wednesday.Last year, Russia began limiting some calls on WhatsApp and messaging service Telegram, accusing foreign-owned platforms of refusing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases. It also blocked Apple’s video-calling app FaceTime in December.Telegram’s Russian-born founder Pavel Durov previously said it would remain committed to protecting freedom of speech and user privacy.
