Officials say the apps refused to store Russian users’ data in the country, as required by law, and they have claimed scammers exploit messaging apps. Yet Central Bank figures show most scams still happen over regular mobile networks. Telecom experts and many Russians see the crackdown as the government trying to keep an eye on who people talk to and potentially what they say.
Source: Russia targets WhatsApp and pushes new ‘super-app’ as internet blackouts grow