Russia’s state communications watchdog said it is tightening restrictions on WhatsApp, claiming the US-owned platform violates Russian law and is being used to facilitate criminal activity, according to comments carried by the Tass news agency.
Roskomnadzor said the messenger app “continues to violate” Russian legal requirements and alleged it is used to organize illicit actions, recruit individuals for unlawful activities, and conduct fraud targeting Russian citizens.
The authority stressed that WhatsApp has not implemented measures demanded under local laws to prevent and counter criminal offenses.
The regulator said limitations introduced since August have gradually reduced the quality of WhatsApp calls, reiterating that the process is being rolled out in stages to allow users to transition to other services.
It recommended shifting to “national platforms” amid warnings that the app could be fully blocked if the company does not comply with Russian regulations.
Russia has increased pressure on foreign digital platforms in recent years, introducing fines, access restrictions, and data storage requirements. Previous measures targeted major global tech companies over alleged non-compliance with domestic laws.
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Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
More than 1,100 companies are presenting their latest artificial intelligence technologies at the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, where innovation, international cooperation and AI governance are taking centre stage.
A humanoid robot demonstrated its ability to prepare regional dishes during a live cooking show in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, highlighting advances in embodied artificial intelligence (AI) and dexterous robotics.
Following major layoffs in May, when Meta Platforms cut 10 per cent of its global workforce, 26 former employees have filed a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of using AI-powered software that unfairly targeted people with disabilities and those who took medical or family leave.
A team of South Korean and U.S. researchers has developed a robotic system that allows people to put on clothing without using their hands or needing help from someone else.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russian cosmonauts and one U.S. astronaut successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, highlighting continued U.S.-Russian cooperation in space despite wider geopolitical tensions.
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