Russia shuts down WhatsApp, pushes citizens to state-run app accused of being a ‘surveillance’ tool
Russia has blocked the U.S.-based messaging app WhatsApp, the Kremlin announced Thursday, claiming the Meta-owned company failed to comply with local laws.The move follows six months of pressure on WhatsApp and comes after Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram were banned in Russia in 2022 following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine."Due to Meta's unwillingness to comply with Russian law, such a decision was indeed taken and implemented," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.RUSSIAN […]