Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed his government to formulate new restrictions aimed at foreign messaging applications and software originating from countries deemed “unfriendly.” This initiative, reported by Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service on July 20, is part of a concerted effort to diminish Russia’s reliance on technology from nations that Moscow perceives as adversaries.
Targeting Foreign Communication Services
The Kremlin’s recent announcement outlines plans to limit the usage of foreign-made communication services within Russia. Among the likely candidates for restriction is WhatsApp, a messaging platform owned by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. In 2022, Russia classified Meta as an “extremist organization,” and WhatsApp remains the only service from the tech giant that has not yet faced a ban within Russian borders.
Last year, Russian Senator Artem Sheikin hinted that if WhatsApp’s management fails to adhere to Russian regulations, a potential block could be implemented as early as 2025. Meanwhile, the status of the Telegram messaging app hangs in the balance. Founded by Pavel Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur, Telegram has consistently denied any affiliations with Russian authorities or intelligence agencies, despite various journalistic investigations suggesting otherwise.
The Rise of Domestic Alternatives
In light of these developments, Russian authorities have introduced a new component to their centralized digital surveillance system: the Max messenger from VK. This application, which all Russian officials have been mandated to adopt, reportedly possesses extensive access to users’ devices, including the microphone, camera, contacts, location, and files. Ukrainian intelligence has indicated that data collected through Max is automatically relayed to servers associated with Vkontakte (VK), a widely used social network established by Durov in 2006, which is now effectively under the control of Russian authorities.
