Russian Minister of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev said that the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation did not receive confirmation from the Meta company (recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) that the WhatsApp messenger will launch the function of Russian-language channels in Russia. Russian Federation. His words are quoted TASS.
“We have not received confirmation from Facebook (the owner of the company Meta is known as an extremist and is banned in Russia) that WhatsApp will open a channel in Russia,” Shadayev said.
The head of the Ministry of Digital Development added that the department sent a request to the company regarding the appearance of a new function in the application in Russia.
Meta Corporation announced the opening of WhatsApp channels on the evening of September 13, 2023. It was announced that the new function should be activated 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.
Later Shadayev expressed his confidenceWith the ambassador, “everything will be fine” in the country.
Formerly in the Federation Council statedIt is stated that WhatsApp channels may pose a threat to Russians’ information security.