In a significant shift within the digital communication landscape of Russia, President Vladimir Putin has called for the deactivation of WhatsApp accounts among government officials, advocating for the development of a national messaging service. This initiative marks a pivotal moment as WhatsApp stands as the last remaining foreign messaging platform in the country.
The Russian State Duma has taken a decisive step by adopting a federal law aimed at establishing this new service, which will facilitate correspondence, telephone calls, and serve as a platform for public and commercial services. This development has been confirmed by presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as reported by TASS.
What will the new messenger be like?
Peskov has articulated the vision for Russia’s indigenous messaging service, emphasizing that it should be of “best quality” and “on par” with its foreign counterparts. The new platform will be built on Russian-developed software and will integrate seamlessly with the government portal Gosuslugi. This integration will enable users to verify their identities, present digital documents, register transactions, and authenticate documents using electronic signatures.
“The emergence of a national messenger is great, provided that it will be a competitive messenger that is on par, as they say, with foreign alternatives,” Peskov remarked. He underscored the importance of fostering a competitive environment within the sector, asserting that “a national messenger – and not just a single one – should appear in our country.” He believes that such competition is essential for innovation, stating, “There should also be a competitive environment in this field, because worldwide, messengers thrive only in conditions of very, very tough competition.”
Which countries have their own messaging services?
As Russia embarks on this journey to create its own messaging service, it joins a growing list of nations that have already established indigenous communication platforms. Countries such as China, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea have successfully developed their own messaging applications, demonstrating the global trend towards national digital communication solutions.
