WhatsApp could soon be banned in Russia – here's all you need to know

Russia is considering banning WhatsApp, the country's most popular messaging app. A new domestic app called Max, integrated with government services, will be pre-installed on all new devices starting September 2025. Russian officials cite Meta's designation as an "extremist organization" as justification for the potential ban. The move comes alongside new laws penalizing searches for "extremist" content and VPN usage, making it difficult for Russians to circumvent restrictions.