WhatsApp messenger, owned by American IT company Meta (known as extremist and banned in Russia), may be blocked by Russia’s Roskomnadzor if banned information appears on its channels. In this respect reports TASS referred to RKN’s statement.
“The implementation of measures against non-compliance with the laws of the Russian Federation directly depends on the management of these companies and the decisions they make. The emergence of hostile channels with prohibited information will entail the obligation to immediately remove them and, if rejected, block them,” the agency quotes the regulator’s message.
Meta Corporation announced the opening of WhatsApp channels on the evening of September 13, 2023. The new function is expected to be launched in 150 countries, including Russia, in the coming months.
Shortly after this announcement, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Information Policy Committee Anton Gorelkin authorized a review of the official position of the Russian Federation regarding the operation and blocking of the WhatsApp messaging application in the country. Later, Gorelkin was supported by Alexander Khinshtein, chairman of the State Duma Information Policy Committee.
Formerly in the Federation Council statedIt is stated that WhatsApp channels may pose a threat to Russians’ information security.