PUTIN SIGNED A DECREE TO DEVELOP NATIONAL MESSAGING APP

Wed 25 June 2025:

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Tuesday to develop a national messaging app and ensure its widespread use, primarily in public institutions, according to media reports.

The Digital Development Ministry announced it was working on the app for national use due to security vulnerabilities in WhatsApp and Telegram.

The app, which is expected to resemble China’s WeChat, may be based on the Max app developed by the Russian company, VK, according to reports in the Russian media.

The messaging app under development is expected to be pre-installed on new smartphones sold in Russia and made mandatory for operations at public institutions.

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Russia is developing a national messaging app, often referred to as a “super app,” to reduce reliance on foreign platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram and enhance digital sovereignty. Signed into law by President Vladimir Putin on June 24, 2025, the app is intended to integrate messaging, calls, and government services, such as electronic document signing, access to state databases, and educational interactions.

It may be based on the Max app, developed by VK, a state-controlled tech company often compared to Facebook. The platform aims to handle over 500,000 daily users, use domestic software, and be pre-installed on new smartphones sold in Russia, with mandatory use in public institutions.

The initiative stems from concerns about security vulnerabilities in foreign apps and a desire to control digital infrastructure. The app will integrate with Gosuslugi, Russia’s e-government service, to streamline bureaucratic processes. Critics, including digital rights groups, warn that state control could compromise privacy and enable surveillance, aligning with Russia’s broader “sovereign Internet” strategy to monitor and regulate online activity.

While not explicitly aimed at banning foreign apps, the government may throttle services like WhatsApp and Telegram to encourage adoption of the national app.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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