Meta's WhatsApp Faces Russian Blacklist as Kremlin Targets 68% User Base by September Deadline

WhatsApp's days in Russia might be numbered. A Russian lawmaker responsible for IT oversight just threw down the gauntlet, labeling the messaging giant a security risk and suggesting it should get ready to exit the market.

Anton Gorelkin, deputy chair of the State Duma's IT committee, took to Telegram to say WhatsApp-owned by Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META)-is likely to be added to an official blacklist of restricted software in Russia. This move aligns with recent efforts by the Kremlin to tighten control over digital communications by boosting state-backed apps, like the newly launched MAX, which is designed to plug into Russian government services.

It's a striking development considering WhatsApp is currently a daily go-to for some 68% of Russians. Gorelkin's blunt message? "It's time for WhatsApp to pack it up." He also reminded everyone that Meta itself is branded as an extremist group in Russia, with its Facebook and Instagram platforms already banned since 2022 after Moscow's military actions in Ukraine.

Another member of the IT committee, Anton Nemkin, echoed the harsh tone, claiming WhatsApp's continued presence in Russian cyberspace violates national security laws. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stayed non-committal, simply stating that all apps operating in Russia must comply with local legislation.

The bigger picture here is Russia's push for digital sovereignty, a strategy with added urgency after many Western tech companies began pulling out following sanctions and geopolitical tensions. Just last week, President Vladimir Putin issued orders to clamp down on software linked to what Russia calls "unfriendly countries," with a hard deadline of September 1 for these new restrictions to kick in.

As for Telegram (private), which was created by Russian expatriate Pavel Durov, the outlook appears less grim for now. Telegram has started the paperwork to establish a legal entity inside Russia, aiming to stay on the right side of Moscow's rules.

This crackdown is a clear signal to global tech giants: Russia is serious about controlling its digital borders. Whether WhatsApp can navigate this political minefield or is simply collateral damage in Russia's tech-nationalism experiment remains open for debate.