Russia Targets WhatsApp, Shifts 100M Users to State-Backed App

The Russian government is taking steps to impose restrictions on WhatsApp, a platform with a substantial user base of 100 million people, as part of a broader initiative to transition its citizens to a state-controlled application. This move is part of a larger strategy by the Kremlin to promote a domestic "super app" that could potentially serve as a tool for surveillance.

In conjunction with the WhatsApp restrictions, Moscow’s communications regulator is also placing limitations on Telegram, effectively tightening its grip on digital communication within the country. The push for a homegrown alternative reflects the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to maintain control over information and communications in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.