WhatsApp has denounced an attempt by Russian authorities to block the functioning of the application.

WhatsApp accuses Russia of attempting to block the application, claiming that this would aim to force users to switch to a competing application, state-controlled. The Meta group subsidiary emphasized that the Russian government has tried to impose a complete ban on WhatsApp, considering this action a "step backward."

This comes in the context where the Russian regulatory authority has already imposed restrictions on the Telegram application, part of a broader campaign against international social media networks.