(Adnkronos) – “It’s time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market”. This was announced by Anton Gorelkin, vice president of the Duma commission for information policy, explaining that the app – owned by the Meta group, defined as an “extremist organization” and banned in Russia – will most likely be included in the list of software from “Hostile countries” subject to restrictions, currently being prepared on the orders of President Vladimir Putin.
According to Gorelkin, quoted by Interfax, WhatsApp is currently used daily by 68% of Russian citizens, followed by Telegram with 55%. A “national messenger” should take its place, which will include features integrated with state services such as verification through the Gosuslugi platform, digital identity and electronic signature. However, Gorelkin added, it will also be necessary to implement tools similar to those offered by WhatsApp, such as business accounts, currently absent in the new Russian service.
