Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to create a national messaging app.

The app aims to facilitate secure communication, especially in public institutions.

The Digital Development Ministry cited security concerns with platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram as the basis for this initiative.

Reports indicate that the app may be modeled after China’s WeChat and could use technology from the Max app, developed by Russian tech company VK.

The app is expected to be pre-installed on new smartphones sold in Russia.

It will be mandatory for use in public institutions.

🔗 Source: Anadolu Agency

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Russia’s messaging app plans follow a pattern of digital control attempts

This isn’t Russia’s first attempt to control digital communication platforms. In 2018, the government banned Telegram after the company refused to provide user message access to the Federal Security Service (FSB)1.

Despite the ban affecting approximately 15 million Russian users, Telegram’s built-in circumvention features allowed continued usage, demonstrating the challenges of implementing effective digital restrictions1.

The current initiative represents an escalation from previous attempts at control, moving from blocking foreign platforms to creating state-controlled alternatives like “GosChat” that integrate with government services2.

Interestingly, the messaging landscape in Russia shows that during times of conflict, citizens actively seek encrypted communication options—Signal downloads increased by 286% in Russia following the Ukraine invasion, indicating public demand for privacy3.

The plan to pre-install the national app on new smartphones and mandate its use in public institutions reveals a more comprehensive approach to ensuring adoption compared to previous efforts.

2️⃣ Digital nationalism emerges as a global governance trend

Russia’s national messaging app initiative mirrors China’s approach to digital sovereignty, particularly in the stated goal of creating a WeChat-like ecosystem that combines messaging with government services2.