In late May, a significant amendment was introduced to an existing draft bill aimed at establishing a new government-backed instant messaging platform. This initiative, which has received the endorsement of President Vladimir Putin, seeks to provide the platform with unique privileges that would set it apart from its competitors.
Special privileges
The proposed legislation envisions a seamless integration of the new messaging service with government systems, enabling features that no other platform can match. Users would have the ability to certify documents using their electronic signatures, and the platform could serve as a substitute for physical identification. This means it could replace traditional proof of age, eligibility for benefits, and educational credentials. Notably, private enterprises would be mandated to accept the messenger’s identification, eliminating the need for paper documents. Additionally, the bill aims to transition all online correspondence between parents and teachers to this new platform, linking these communications to state systems at both regional and federal levels.
A state service, or not
While the messenger will not replace Gosuslugi, Russia’s existing digital government services platform, it is intended to function as an alternative to its website and mobile application. The specifics of the platform’s management remain uncertain, as the legislation stipulates that the government will select an organization to oversee its creation and operation. This could potentially lead to a private company being tasked with the project, provided it meets certain criteria. To qualify, companies must be Russian-based and operate a social network with over 500,000 users, which are already subject to content monitoring and censorship regulations. Furthermore, messenger applications in Russia must register with a database maintained by the Digital Development Ministry.
VK has entered the chat
The frontrunner to develop this government-backed super-app is VK, the company behind Russia’s leading social network. During a cabinet meeting on June 4, Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadaev revealed that VK has already created a “fully Russian messenger” boasting technical capabilities that rival, and in some areas exceed, those of foreign competitors, particularly in video calling. Shadaev informed President Putin that VK’s messenger is designed to integrate with external services, including encrypted communications between banks and clients.
VK recently unveiled a beta version of its new messenger, named “Max,” which aligns with the criteria outlined in the State Duma’s legislation. Max offers a range of features including text messaging, voice and video calls, an integrated mini-application platform, chatbot constructors, and a payment system. The project has drawn comparisons to WeChat, China’s multifunctional “super-app,” which combines messaging, social networking, and various other services. WeChat’s extensive capabilities have made it a dominant force in China, with a global user base of approximately 1.3 billion.
However, the push for a Russian equivalent raises concerns about potential censorship and user surveillance, especially given VK’s history of collaboration with Russian authorities.
Brace yourselves, Telegram and WhatsApp
The Russian government may eventually consider blocking competitors to Max. WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, has already been labeled as an “extremist” organization in Russia, and state officials have previously issued threats against the platform. Despite its immense popularity, with 84 million daily users in Russia, the authorities have refrained from blocking WhatsApp, at least for now. Telegram, which has seen its user base grow to 68 million daily users amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, has historically challenged state censorship but has recently adopted a more conciliatory approach towards the authorities.
Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, who co-founded VK, may not be as compliant with the Russian government as VK has become. Anton Gorelkin, the first deputy of the State Duma’s Information Technology Committee, recently suggested that “extreme measures won’t be necessary” against Telegram, provided the company complies with local laws.
Vladimir Putin has entered the chat
During the meeting where Minister Shadaev presented the super-app concept, President Putin expressed his support, instructing his cabinet to coordinate efforts to promote the Russian messaging platform by migrating services currently provided by government agencies and financial institutions. Just a week prior, Putin had proposed “strangling” Western online services still operating in Russia. This rhetoric indicates a likely acceleration of the Kremlin’s efforts to replace foreign social networks with domestically controlled alternatives that can be monitored and censored at will.
