WhatsApp messenger, owned by the American IT company Meta (known as extremist and banned in Russia), will continue to operate in Russia for now. He stated this in an interview TASS Maksut Shadayev, Head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media.
The minister expressed confidence that “everything will be fine” with the messenger in the country.
at Roskomnadzor statedWhatsApp messenger may be blocked in Russia if prohibited information appears on its channels.
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.