Rep. Roe, Kakaotalk and other "information distribution organizations" said, "If you break the law, you will be blocked."

There have been warnings in Russia that messaging services designated as "information distribution organizations" could be blocked if they do not comply with local laws.

"If Messenger does not comply with certain demands or obligations, the possibility of blocking will increase," Artim Sheikin, vice chairman of the Russian Senate's Digital Economy Development Committee, told RIA Novosti news agency on the 23rd (local time).

Messenger services included in the information distribution organization must store user information and messages such as text, voice, photo, sound, and reception status in Russian territory and provide such information when security and investigative agencies such as the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) require it.

"It is important to understand that foreign companies operating on the territory of the Russian Federation must follow Russian law and will not be able to do their job if they do not do so," Vice Chairman Sheikin stressed.

Earlier, the Russian Telecommunications, Information Technology, and MassCom Supervision Agency (Loscomnazor) recently registered Korea's KakaoTalk as an information distribution organization along with famous messenger services such as WhatsApp and Skype.

Russia once banned the use of Meta's other services in the country, such as Facebook and Instagram, except WhatsApp, after labeling Meta in the U.S. as an "extremist organization" in 2022.

"What WhatsApp will go through in 2025 depends on the management's attitude," Vice Chairman Sheikin added of WhatsApp, particularly in Russia.

He went on to say that if WhatsApp followed Roskomnazor's needs well, users would not be able to undergo changes.

There is also an opinion that overseas messenger services are unlikely to be blocked in Russia.

Sergei Boyarski, chairman of the House of Representatives' (National Duma) Information Policy Committee, said there was no information on possible WhatsApp blockings and that "the fact that it was included in the list of information distribution organizations means nothing."

"I'm surprised that journalists and experts are linking the risk of blocking information distribution organizations," Anton Gorelkin, vice chairman of the House Intelligence Policy Committee, said on Telegram. "Given the popularity of WhatsApp in Russia, I don't think it will be blocked."