WhatsApp is not expected to roll out its channel feature in Russia, a move that could potentially trigger a blockage of the messaging app within the country. This stance was conveyed by Anton Gorelkin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Information Policy Committee, in a statement shared on his Telegram channel.
According to Gorelkin, Russian users are not anticipated to gain access to public channels on WhatsApp. He also noted that there is no formal confirmation from authorities or the company yet, with the information reportedly coming from a Dutch newspaper that cited an anonymous Meta representative. The absence of official confirmation casts doubt on the immediacy of any change.
Gorelkin described the available notice as vague, mentioning a disclaimer that the product would not be available for sale in the near future. He suggested that this outlook might be overly optimistic, arguing that the status of Meta could remain unchanged in the near term and that removing the label of extremist organization from the corporation would be unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Mid September brought news from Meta about the launch of WhatsApp channels, designed to function similarly to Telegram channels. Shortly thereafter, Gorelkin indicated a reassessment of Russia’s official position regarding the operation of WhatsApp within the country. This shift aligns with the broader conversation about the role of messaging tools versus content publishing platforms in the Russian regulatory framework.
In Russia, WhatsApp continues to operate under the premise that it is a messaging service rather than a platform for disseminating banned content. This distinction has influenced how regulators have treated the service compared with Meta’s other social networks, where restrictions and disclosures around content publishing have been more actively enforced.
Media reports from the Moscow Times identified that WhatsApp had declined to deploy channels in Russia, a claim attributed to a Meta representative. The Russian authorities previously signaled a willingness to block the messenger if channels could be leveraged to share prohibited information. The evolving position reflects ongoing tensions between platform functionality, information control, and domestic policy priorities.
Earlier updates noted WhatsApp’s plan to end support for millions of Android devices, a separate development that could impact access and device compatibility for a segment of users in the region. These regulatory and product changes together shape how WhatsApp may navigate the market in Russia in the near term, balancing user needs with legal and political constraints. The overall picture remains advisory rather than definitive, with official confirmations still awaited from both regulators and the company’s regional representatives.