Russian authorities have dramatically slowed down WhatsApp by up to 80%, a move that digital rights experts warn could be a precursor to a full ban.
The crackdown comes amid renewed statements by President Vladimir Putin about achieving “internet sovereignty,” widely interpreted as a strategy to enforce complete state control over online information.
Although Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, IT, and Mass Media has not formally announced a full blockade, international media indicate a complete restriction may be imminent.
WhatsApp—owned by Meta Platforms, now labeled an “extremist organization” in Russia—was previously the country’s most popular messaging platform. Unlike Facebook and Instagram, which were blocked in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, WhatsApp had remained accessible.
Experts note that the slowdown may be a test of the state’s ability to restrict encrypted communication without provoking mass backlash. WhatsApp remains widely used in Russia for private messaging and business communications.
The Internet Protection Society reported that the disruption likely uses deep packet inspection (DPI) technology, which allows authorities to monitor and selectively filter internet traffic in real time, even on encrypted platforms.
Digital rights lawyers warn that this move signals an intensification of Russia’s repressive internet policies, further undermining freedom of expression and digital privacy. Russian users report widespread difficulties accessing WhatsApp, particularly via mobile networks, and Roskomsvoboda confirms that outages have increased across multiple regions.
