Deputy Anton Gorelkin stated that WhatsApp may be compelled to exit the Russian market. This comes in light of a new feature in the app that could be deemed a violation of the law, putting the app at risk of being banned.

According to Reuters, Gorelkin highlighted that WhatsApp's parent company, Meta, is categorized as an extremist organization in Russia.

Gorelkin also mentioned that the new state app MAX could capture market share if WhatsApp faces a ban. He noted that 68% of Russians use the messenger daily.

This week, the Kremlin released new directives from Putin, which include restrictions on software from "unfriendly countries," specifically targeting communication platforms. The deadline for compliance is set for September 1st.

Gorelkin added that Telegram, created by Russian Pavel Durov, is likely to avoid a ban if it adheres to legal requirements. According to Roskomnadzor, Telegram has already begun the process of registering as a Russian legal entity.