Coverage dated February 11, 2026

Russia confirms ban on WhatsApp, says it failed to abide by law

Headline from Digital Journal

Russia has blocked the popular messaging service WhatsApp over its failure to comply with local legislation.

Digital Journal's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

16 articles, oldest first.

NBC News
Russia fully blocks WhatsApp, talks up state-backed alternative (opens NBC News)
Published Feb 11, 2026
NBC News's feed description
U.S. messenger app WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms META.O, has been completely blocked in Russia for failing to comply with local law, the Kremlin said.
New York Post
Russia has tried to fully block WhatsApp and ‘drive users to state-owned surveillance app’ (opens New York Post)
Published Feb 11, 2026
New York Post's feed description
Russia has attempted to fully block WhatsApp in the country, the company said, the latest move in an ongoing government effort to tighten control over the internet.
Digital Journal
Russia confirms ban on WhatsApp, says it failed to abide by law (opens Digital Journal)
Published Feb 11, 2026
Digital Journal's feed description
Russia has blocked the popular messaging service WhatsApp over its failure to comply with local legislation.
Engadget
WhatsApp is now fully blocked in Russia (opens Engadget)
Published Feb 11, 2026
Engadget's feed description
After warnings from lawmakers last year, WhatsApp has been blocked in Russia for as many as 100 million users.
CBS News
Russia blocks WhatsApp as it pushes state-backed alternative on citizens (opens CBS News)
Published Feb 11, 2026
CBS News's feed description
The messaging platform WhatsApp says Russia has "attempted to fully block" its service inside the country, "to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app."
The World from PRX
Russia tightens restrictions on Telegram and WhatsApp (opens The World from PRX)
Published Feb 11, 2026
The World from PRX's feed description
This week, Russia announced restrictions on Telegram and WhatsApp, two messaging platforms vital to communicating with the outside world. As Russian politics expert Sam Greene tells Host Marco Werman, Russians have always found ways around censorship, but the question is where people will go to shar…
Deutsche Welle
Russia blocks YouTube and WhatsApp (opens Deutsche Welle)
Published Feb 11, 2026
WFMZ Allentown
WhatsApp says Russia has tried to fully block the messaging app (opens WFMZ Allentown)
Published Feb 11, 2026
WFMZ Allentown's feed description
Russia has attempted to fully block WhatsApp in the country, the company said, the latest move in an ongoing government effort to tighten control over the internet.
Washington Examiner
Russia replaces WhatsApp with state-sanctioned messenger (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Feb 11, 2026
Washington Examiner's feed description
Russians were pressed to adopt Max, seen as a possible surveillance tool, after WhatsApp, the country's most popular messenger, was blocked.
CNN
Russia says it has blocked WhatsApp amid wider clampdown on social media (opens CNN)
Published Feb 11, 2026
CNN's feed description
Russia has confirmed that it has blocked instant messaging app WhatsApp in the country, instead directing Russian citizens to use its state-backed Max app.
Al Jazeera
Russia bans WhatsApp, pushes state-backed alternative (opens Al Jazeera)
Published Feb 11, 2026
Al Jazeera's feed description
Rights campaigners say restrictions on messaging apps are a transparent attempt to ramp up control and surveillance.
Deutsche Welle
Russia moves to block WhatsApp, pushes state-backed rival (opens Deutsche Welle)
Published Feb 11, 2026
Digital Journal
Russia cracks down on WhatsApp as it pushes state-backed rival (opens Digital Journal)
Published Feb 11, 2026
Digital Journal's feed description
Russia has blocked the popular messaging service WhatsApp over its failure to comply with local legislation, the Kremlin said Thursday, urging its 100
Newsweek
Russia attempting to "fully block" WhatsApp (opens Newsweek)
Published Feb 11, 2026
Newsweek's feed description
Moscow has accused foreign messaging apps of breaching national laws and labeled Meta an "extremist" company in 2022.
The Guardian
Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company says (opens The Guardian)
Published Feb 11, 2026
The Guardian's feed description
Move is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.