The Russian government has completely banned WhatsApp, the world's most widely used messaging app, cutting off over 100 million users inside Russia from the outside world. The Kremlin stated the ban was triggered by Meta's refusal to comply with local laws requiring the company to share data with law enforcement agencies for investigations into fraud and terrorism. In addition to the ban, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged Russian citizens to switch to a new state-backed messaging app called MAX. Critics argue that the MAX app is a surveillance tool designed to monitor and track citizens, though Russian authorities have denied these allegations. The ban is the culmination of six months of pressure, and reflects Russia's broader ambition to build a sovereign communications network during wartime. WhatsApp described the ban as a backward move that threatens user security. Currently, some Russians are switching to the government's MAX app while others are using VPNs to continue accessing WhatsApp. Meanwhile, activists have locked bicycles to the doors of the communications regulatory authority's offices to protest for a free internet. Ref: Fossbytes