Russia considers WhatsApp a threat to national security
Lawmakers in Russia have announced that the messaging app WhatsApp should prepare to exit the Russian market. According to Anton Nemkin, a member of the Russian Duma, this application is considered a threat to national security.
Another member of parliament, Anton Gorelkin, also stated that WhatsApp will soon be placed on the list of software belonging to unfriendly countries, a list which includes software subject to blocking.
Currently, more than 68% of Russian citizens use WhatsApp.
Gorelkin added that the government’s preferred alternative is the local messaging app Max, which, according to him, can capture WhatsApp’s market share in Russia.