Whatsapp

The Russian government is trying to block WhatsApp in the country as its crackdown on communication platforms outside its control intensifies. WhatsApp announced the action against it on X, calling it “a backwards step” that “can only lead to less safety for people in Russia.” WhatsApp assured its Russian users that it will continue doing everything it can to keep them connected. According to Russian media, the country’s internet watchdog, Roskomnadzor, had recently excluded the domains whatsapp.com and web.whatsapp.com from the National Domain Name System, citing the official explanation of countering crime and fraud. In practice, excluding the domains from domestic DNS routing made WhatsApp services accessible only to users who use VPN tools or external resolvers. However, more aggressive measures are reportedly now in place, with the latest attempt to fully block WhatsApp in Russia. The instant messenger's parent company, Meta, has been designated as an “extremist” entity in Russia since 2022. WhatsApp saw its first restrictions in the country in August 2025, when Roskomnadzor began throttling voice and video calls. In October 2025, the authorities attempted to block new user registrations. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov reportedly stated that the authorities are open to allowing WhatsApp to resume operations

Russia has blocked the U.S.-based messaging app WhatsApp, the Kremlin announced Thursday, claiming the Meta-owned company failed to comply with local laws. The move follows six months of pressure on WhatsApp and comes after Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram were banned in Russia in 2022 following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. "Due to Meta's unwillingness to comply with Russian law, such a decision was indeed taken and implemented," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. RUSSIAN FORCES LOSE KEY BATTLEFIELD ADVANTAGE AFTER STARLINK TERMINALS ABRUPTLY SHUT DOWN Russia blocked the U.S.-based messaging app WhatsApp, citing the company’s failure to comply with local laws. (REUTERS/Thomas White/File Photo / Reuters) Peskov instead urged Russians to use MAX, the country's state-owned messaging app. "MAX is an accessible alternative, a developing messenger, a national messenger, and it is available on the market for citizens as an alternative," he said. WhatsApp, Russia's most popular messenger app, said in a statement that the Russian government "attempted to fully block" the app "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,"

Russia announced Thursday it had blocked WhatsApp over its alleged failure to comply with Russian legislation, days after restricting access to rival messaging service Telegram for similar reasons. Moscow has for months been trying to shift users onto Max, a domestic messaging service that lacks end-to-end encryption and which activists have called a potential surveillance tool. Critics say the restrictions are part of a broader campaign by Russian authorities to tighten control over internet use and more easily monitor Russian citizens online. Here's what we know about both apps and Russia's attempts to push users onto Max. WhatsApp, which has over 100 million users in Russia, is owned by US tech giant Meta. The app was the most popular messaging service among Russians aged 25 and over in 2023, while Telegram was more popular among younger users, according to a report by Russian news outlet RBK. Russia announced it was blocking calls on both applications last August, accusing them of facilitating crime. It has since progressively slowed down WhatsApp and in November announced it would ban the platform outright unless it complied with Russian legislation. Russia has asked for both messengers to provide access to data when requested by law

Rights campaigners say restrictions on messaging apps are a transparent attempt to ramp up control and surveillance. Russia has blocked messaging service WhatsApp over alleged legal breaches, urging users to switch to a state-backed alternative in what is widely seen as a bid to clamp down on free speech amid the war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced the move on Thursday, attributing it to WhatsApp’s “reluctance to comply with the norms and letter of Russian law”. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 Russia evacuates tourists from Cuba as US-engineered fuel crisis deepens list 2 of 3 Russian strike kills father, 3 children in Ukraine, wounds pregnant mother list 3 of 3 Russia says it will stick to limits of expired nuclear treaty if US does end of list He advised Russians to turn instead to MAX, a state-sponsored platform touted as a one-stop shop for messaging, online government services and other services like making payments. Experts warn that MAX, which openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request, does not use the end-to-end encryption that ensures messages remain private on popular services like WhatsApp, leaving users vulnerable to state snooping. Last

Meta-owned messaging platform is experimenting with new personalisation tools in its Android beta version, potentially allowing users to change themes, accent colours and app icons, signalling a shift from its long-standing green-centric design identity. WhatsApp appears to be preparing a significant visual refresh for its Android application, with new personalisation features currently under development. The upcoming tools, identified in a recent beta build, indicate that users may soon be able to tailor the app’s appearance with greater flexibility. The features were first reported by WhatsApp tracker WABetaInfo, which spotted the changes in an Android beta release. Although the options are not yet accessible to the general public, they are being tested with a limited group of developers and beta users, suggesting a broader rollout could follow in a future update. New icons and visual themes in the works The beta version, reportedly numbered 2.26.6.1, introduces a range of alternative app icons designed to offer a fresh look on users’ home screens. In total, 14 icon styles have been identified. Seven of these appear to follow minimalist, single-colour designs such as blue, brown, green, monochrome, orange, pink and purple. The remaining icons adopt more stylised themes, carrying names like Aurora, Fluffy

The government on Tuesday cited existing legal and regulatory provisions after concerns were raised in Parliament over the illegal circulation and sale of pornographic material through Telegram channels, WhatsApp groups and other encrypted mobile applications. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada said the policies of the government are aimed at ensuring an open, safe, trusted and accountable internet, particularly to prevent violence against women and exploitation of minors. IT Act and IT Rules Framework The minister referred to the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 as the primary framework to deal with unlawful and harmful online content. Under the IT Act, publishing or transmitting obscene or sexually explicit content is punishable under Sections 67, 67A and 67B. The Act also empowers police to investigate offences under Sections 78 and 80. The IT Rules, 2021 require intermediaries to exercise due diligence and prohibit hosting or transmitting content that is obscene, pornographic, harmful to children, invasive of privacy or otherwise unlawful. Key provisions include: Removal of non-consensual intimate imagery within 24 hours Resolution of grievances within 72 hours Appointment of

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central) What you need to know WhatsApp Web now lets users make and answer audio and video calls directly from the browser for the first time. The new calling feature on WhatsApp Web supports end-to-end encryption and screen sharing, similar to desktop apps. The feature is currently limited to WhatsApp Web beta users, with a wider rollout expected soon. After years of waiting, WhatsApp has finally started rolling out the ability to make and answer audio and video calls directly from its web client. Alongside desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and more recently iPadOS, WhatsApp has long offered a web client that lets users send and receive messages through a browser. The functionality has existed for over a decade now, and while WhatsApp Web has seen several feature additions and UI changes over the years, the ability to answer calls was missing until now. As spotted by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp Web is now rolling out support for both making and answering calls directly from the browser. The report notes that the feature has been in development for around a year and is finally starting to reach users. (Image credit: WABetaInfo) Similar to the desktop apps

WhatsApp Web has been around since 2015, but the browser version of the messaging platform has yet to support voice or video calls. That’s about to change as the WhatsApp Web beta program is now introducing voice and video calls. The feature is gradually rolling out to beta subscribers and only works for one-to-one voice and video calls. Users can also share their screen during calls. Group calls are expected to arrive at a later point in time with support for calls with up to 32 participants. Call links and scheduled calls are also expected to be gradually rolled out. Calls placed on WhatsApp Web feature automatic end-to-end encryption using the Signal protocol. Source

The EU sent Meta a formal antitrust warning, giving the company a chance to respond and defend itself AFP February 09, 2026 2 min read This illustration photograph taken on December 1, 2025, shows the logo of US instant messaging software WhatsApp displayed on a smartphone's screen, in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany. The European Commission told Meta on February 9, 2026 to give rival chatbots access to its WhatsApp messaging service after an antitrust probe found the US giant to be in breach of the bloc's competition rules.PHOTO FILE: AFP The EU executive told Meta on Monday that it must let rival AI chatbots use its WhatsApp platform, after an antitrust probe found the US giant to be in breach of the bloc's competition rules. The European Commission said a change in Meta's terms had "effectively" barred third-party artificial intelligence assistants from connecting to customers via the messaging platform since January. Competition chief Teresa Ribera said the EU was "considering" interim measures to "avoid Meta's new policy irreparably harming competition in Europe". The EU executive sent Meta a warning known as a "statement of objections", a formal step in antitrust probes, and the US giant now has a chance

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