Digital Iron Curtain: WhatsApp and YouTube Fully Blocked in Russia

Russian authorities have implemented a new wave of severe internet restrictions aimed at tightening control over the country's information space. Following the blocking of YouTube, the popular messaging service WhatsApp has now been completely shut down across the Russian Federation, as reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

According to Russian media reports, the service’s domains have been removed from Roskomnadzor’s DNS servers and the National Domain Name System (NDNS). This technical maneuver means:

• Local internet service providers (ISPs) can no longer match the "whatsapp.com" domain name with its IP address.
• Users are unable to access the app or its web version without the use of a VPN.
• While the primary domains whatsapp.com and web.whatsapp.com have been purged, some secondary technical domains like whatsapp.net and the short-link service wa.me currently remain on the registry, though they do not restore full functionality.

Industry experts suggest that the timing of the block is intended to force users onto "Max," a new Russian-developed messaging platform. Developed by the tech giant VK, the "Max" app is reportedly under the full oversight of Russian intelligence services.

While the Kremlin justifies these measures as a move to "ensure citizen safety" and "combat fraudulent calls," critics and the Center for Strategic Communications argue that the primary goal is to establish total digital surveillance. This follows previous restrictions where voice and video calls on both WhatsApp and Telegram were limited under the guise of security.

The complete shutdown of these platforms marks a significant escalation in Russia's efforts to isolate its domestic internet from global tech giants and Western influence.