WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging app, finds itself under sharper scrutiny in Russia as chatter grows about a potential channel creation feature. The core question is whether such a tool could be blocked if a channel function becomes available within the country. This assessment stems from a conversation reported by RT, featuring Igor Bederov, head of the T.Hunter Information and Analytical Research Department, who weighs the possible regulatory consequences. RT is the cited source for these remarks.
According to the expert, adding channels to WhatsApp could drive the service toward a broadcasting model similar to platforms like Telegram and WeChat. Such a shift would enable rapid information distribution to large audiences. Under Russia’s data localization rules, data about Russian users must reside on servers within the country. Consequently, any channel operation would fall under the regime governing data landing in Russia. RT is the source noting these regulatory implications.
“Russian authorities will have little choice but to intervene on the territory of the country,” Bederov said, reflecting the broader friction between global messaging platforms and Russia’s approach to information control and digital sovereignty. RT is the outlet reporting this stance.
On September 13, reports indicated that WhatsApp had rolled out the channel creation feature to users in more than 150 countries. In an official blog post, the company stated that this channel creation option would be accessible to all users in the coming months. The rollout marks WhatsApp’s plan to broaden its footprint by enabling organized, broadcast-like communication, useful for public figures, organizations, and communities. The blog post from WhatsApp is the cited source for these details.
Following this development, Anton Gorelkin, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Information Policy Committee, examined the formal stance on WhatsApp’s operations in Russia. The dialogue underscores ongoing policy discussions about how platforms behave, how user data is managed, and access within the Russian Federation. Official statements are the basis for these discussions.
Earlier reporting highlighted concerns voiced within local communities, including parental worries about safety and information flow after a separate incident in the Rostov region. This event underscores the public interest in how messaging apps handle urgent and sensitive communications. Rostov region reporting is the referenced source for these community concerns.