Total WhatsApp ban warned by Russia

Cybernews reports that WhatsApp is at risk of being completely banned in Russia as the country's media watchdog Roskomnadzor imposed tighter restrictions on the platform due to its alleged failure to adhere to new information-sharing requirements related to terrorism and fraud investigations.

Additional restrictions could be gradually rolled out against WhatsApp in a bid to allow people to transition to other platforms, including the government-backed messaging app MAX, which was unveiled earlier this year.

"WhatsApp continues to violate Russian law. The messenger is used to organize and carry out terrorist actions on the territory of the country, to recruit their perpetrators, for fraudulent and other crimes against our citizens," a Roskomnadzor spokesperson said in a statement to the Interfax news agency.

While WhatsApp parent firm Meta has committed to keeping its encrypted services in Russia following the country's prohibition of its calling feature in August, it has yet to comment on the threat of a total ban.