Skip to main content

WeChat joins BlackBerry Messenger and Line as apps that are banned in Russia

apple tencent wechat tip deal
Christian de Looper / Digital Trends
WeChat, a popular mobile messaging and money transfer service in China, has become the latest social app blocked in Russia, according to the Hong Kong Free Press. Roskomnadzor, the Russian government’s media supervision body, reportedly shut down the app for allowing the transmission of citizens’ personal information without the state’s consent. It is Russian law that such data must be kept within the country’s borders for a limited time and provided to law enforcement if necessary.

WeChat reportedly boasts nearly 900 million users in China, the home of the app’s developer, Tencent. A representative from Tencent apologized for the outage on the company’s website and added the following statement:

“Russian regulations say online service providers have to register with the government, but WeChat doesn’t have the same understanding [of the rules].”

According to a government official, Tencent “did not provide its contact information for the register of information distribution organizations,” leading to the ban. Roskomnadzor reportedly requested that Apple and Google take WeChat down and while awaiting a response, compelled national telecommunications providers to block the app themselves.

WeChat’s trouble in the region follows bans of BlackBerry Messenger and Line last week, similar messaging apps that were cited by Roskomnadzor for the same offenses. But the highest-profile victim of the government’s data regulations would have to be professional social network LinkedIn, which was shut down in the country in November. A year earlier, the executive body threatened to ban Facebook and Twitter for failing to hand over information on Russian users.

According to LinkedIn, the company’s attempts to discuss the issue with Roskomnadzor at the time were repeatedly denied. The federal body reportedly argued that LinkedIn’s lack of physical or managerial presence in Russia contributed to the lack of communication between the sides.

Roskomnadzor was established in its current incarnation in 2008. The law that has resulted in internet-based apps and services being blocked was passed in 2014.

Following the LinkedIn debacle, Maria Olson, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, tweeted the U.S. was “concerned” by Russia’s decision, saying it established a “troubling precedent to shut down any site with Russia user data.” Over six months later, that precedent appears to have been firmly established.

Editors' Recommendations

Adam Ismail
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Adam’s obsession with tech began at a young age, with a Sega Dreamcast – and he’s been hooked ever since. Previously…
Save on Apple’s USB-C Power Adapter to go with your iPhone 15
The Apple USB-C Power Adapter on a white background.

If you've just bought yourself a shiny new iPhone 15 then lamented the fact it doesn't come with a power adapter, we've got the right Apple deals for you. Over at Walmart, you can buy the Apple USB-C power adapter for $17 instead of $19. Sure, it's a tiny saving of $2 but you need this adapter anyway, so you might as well save a couple of bucks while you're at it. If you need to know a bit more about the adapter and why it's so useful, read on. Otherwise, just hit the buy button to get straight to saving some cash.

Why you should buy the Apple USB-C Power Adapter
So, you've weighed up whether to go iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro and bought your new phone. Then you've cursed the fact that there's no way to charge it via a regular power source and you're limited to plugging it into your laptop or USB-C dock to recharge. That's where you need to buy the Apple USB-C Power Adapter.

Read more
Here’s what iOS 17’s coolest feature looks like in action
Apple NameDrop in action.

Apple has rolled out iOS 17 globally, and if you’ve already installed it, you might be surprised by the lack of visual pizazz that it offers. That observation isn’t far from reality. With the exception of StandBy mode, which essentially turns your iPhone into a glorified smart display while charging, there really isn’t much of a visual wow factor here.

But if you dig deeper, you will find that Apple really flexed its design muscles at the most basic level — telephony. With iOS 17, Apple introduced Contact Posters. Think of them as a digital identity card, one that allows a heap of styling and really lights up your call screen.

Read more
Don’t want the iPhone 15? The latest iPhone SE is $149 today
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) being held in a mans hand.

Apple's iPhone 15 is already out, but if it's too expensive, you may want to consider going for the affordable third-generation Apple iPhone SE. It's currently available from Walmart for a very low price of $149, for savings of $230 on its original price of $379. There's a catch though -- the device is locked to a prepaid plan from Simple Mobile. If you're fine with that, then hurry with your purchase because we're not sure how much time is remaining before one of the cheapest iPhone deals ever expires.

Why you should buy the Apple iPhone SE 2022
The Apple iPhone SE 2022 remains in our roundup of the best iPhones as the top choice for those with tight budgets. It comes with limitations, including a a dated design, poor battery life, and just 64GB of storage, but for its cost, it's an excellent entry point into the iOS ecosystem. The smartphone is powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip, which is the same processor inside the iPhone 14, and it features a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display that's compact enough to easily use the device with just one hand.

Read more