In a significant move towards enhancing digital communication within the country, Russian lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at establishing a national instant messaging service. This initiative, approved by the State Duma on June 10, is envisioned as a “multifunctional information exchange service,” drawing parallels to popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp, which is widely utilized in Russia.
Features and Development of the New Service
The proposed service is designed to facilitate a variety of bureaucratic and legal functions, including the ability to sign electronic documents. While the legislation does not explicitly mandate that the app be government-operated, reports from the business newspaper Vedomosti indicate that VK, a social media platform akin to Facebook and closely aligned with the Kremlin, is in the process of developing a new digital platform named Max. This platform is expected to encompass chat and messaging features, payment services, and additional applications.
For years, Russian authorities have expressed concerns regarding the influence and autonomy of major technology companies, particularly those based in the United States, such as Microsoft, Facebook, and YouTube. Since the late 1990s, there has been a concerted effort to establish a “sovereign Internet” in Russia, characterized by stringent control and oversight by local regulators. This has included measures to compel foreign companies to localize their server infrastructure within Russia’s borders, as well as initiatives to gain control over domestic tech firms like VK and Yandex. Notably, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has been labeled an extremist organization in Russia.
The Russian government previously launched Gosuslugi, an e-government service portal, which has become an essential tool for approximately 100 million citizens, simplifying numerous bureaucratic processes. In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to integrate Gosuslugi’s services with VK, with regulators leveraging the platform to inform users about potential restrictions on services like Instagram and to promote a transition to VK.
Experts, both within Russia and internationally, have interpreted these developments as part of a broader ambition to create a “super app”—a comprehensive digital tool for both personal and professional interactions, reminiscent of China’s WeChat, which boasts billions of active users monthly. At a recent conference, Maksut Shadayev, the Minister of Digital Development, hinted at the possibility of integrating the forthcoming Max app with Gosuslugi.
During a Cabinet meeting held on June 4, President Vladimir Putin expressed his support for the new messaging service, instructing officials to “support the Russian messaging platform” and facilitate the transition of services currently provided by government agencies and financial institutions to this emerging platform.
