Russia has implemented a ban on the use of foreign messaging applications in its government and state agencies. The law is part of “On information, information technology, and information protection,” which prohibits Russian agencies from using foreign-owned information exchange systems.
Among the banned services are Skype for Business, Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber, and WeChat. Interestingly, the popular video conferencing platform Zoom and encrypted messaging service Signal are not on the list. The move is seen as a precaution to prevent sensitive information from reaching foreign entities.
This ban is part of Russia’s strategy to limit the deployment of foreign software in critical sectors. In 2022, the country introduced incentives to promote the use of Russian Linux-based operating systems in government and public service organizations.
Additionally, most trustworthy VPN products have been banned in Russia, and last month, the State Duma proposed the creation of a national VPN service.
While the Russian state has previously demanded that some of the banned products remove misinformation from their platforms, the current ban is not aimed at curbing foreign information.
Rather, it is aimed at preventing leaks of sensitive information to foreign intelligence. The ban is expected to boost the use of domestic messaging platforms.
