Putin pushes digital sovereignty with state messaging app
The initiative is part of Moscow's broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, and to strengthen what it terms "digital sovereignty."
According to Reuters, Russia has been actively promoting local alternatives as part of a broader campaign to assert control over its digital ecosystem.
The urgency of this effort has grown since several Western tech companies left the Russian market following the onset of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
According to state-run outlet RIA Novosti, the upcoming government-supported app is expected to include functionalities beyond those offered by existing platforms.
While officials pitch it as a secure, integrated communication tool, digital rights advocates have raised red flags. Critics argue that increased state control over messaging services could severely undermine user privacy and limit civil freedoms.
Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, warned that authorities may intentionally slow down platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram to encourage citizens to adopt the new state-run app.
The development coincides with growing global scrutiny of private messaging platforms. Just one day prior, the U.S. House of Representatives imposed an official ban on WhatsApp across all government-issued devices, citing vulnerabilities in data storage and concerns over user privacy.
The app has been flagged as a high-risk platform due to its lack of end-to-end encryption for stored content, raising alarms over potential data leaks and foreign surveillance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
15 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Trump leaves empty-handed, but Putin leaves Alaska with 'Greatest Gift'
ALBAWABA - The New York Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin emerged as the main beneficiary of the Alaska summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, despite the meeting's failure to deliver progress on the war in Ukraine. The highly anticipated summit ended in just over three hours without even a temporary ceasefire agreement — the first step many hoped would pave the way for broader negotiations. For Ukrainians and European allies, the breakdown brought a sense of relief, as fears lingered that Trump might concede to Russia's territorial demands and pressure President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a painful compromise. While Trump avoided making concessions on Ukrainian territory, his tone toward Putin unsettled Kyiv. He repeatedly referred to the Russian leader in warm terms and suggested that responsibility for reaching a ceasefire now rests with Zelensky. Analysts say this approach left Ukraine questioning Washington's reliability as a partner. "Pursuing Peace. Alaska" "Trump rolled out many trappings of welcome to Putin as he arrived in the US: a military fly-over, a red carpet, a presidential handshake and a private ride in the presidential limousine. Trump even applauded Putin as he approached on the red carpet" NYT — (((Orchid)))🌻 (@OrchidNYC) August 15, 2025 Putin's 'Greatest Gift' According to the NYT, Putin secured a major symbolic victory: a return to international legitimacy. Once shunned as a pariah under sanctions and an international arrest warrant, Putin was hosted on American soil with handshakes, smiles, and military honors. Trump even elevated Moscow's global status by declaring, 'We are number one, they are number two in the world,' sidelining China's claim to global influence. The summit also ended without mention of secondary sanctions against countries buying Russian oil, despite previous U.S. deadlines. Trump's warnings of 'severe consequences' if no ceasefire emerged were effectively neutralized by Putin's presence and demeanor. In less than four hours, Putin managed to ease pressure over sanctions, restore his place on the world stage, and project himself as a statesman rather than an isolated dictator. The paper concluded that while no deal was struck, Putin left Alaska having achieved one of his core wartime objectives: legitimacy as a global player once again.
Al Bawaba
18 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
A first lady's unusual move: What Melania told Putin about Ukraine's children
ALBAWABA - Two people inside the White House told Reuters that Melania Trump, who is married to President Donald Trump, has written a personal letter to Putin. The message, which President Trump personally gave during their meeting in Alaska, was mostly about kidnappings of children that are connected to the war in Ukraine. The officials wouldn't say what the letter was about in full, but they did say that it was about the forced removal of Ukrainian children to Russia and areas controlled by Russia. What was done is what Ukraine calls "war crimes" and has called it "genocide" many times. At an Alaskan U.S. military base, Trump and Putin met for three hours. Even though the talks were very public, they did not lead to any progress on the main issue, which was stopping the war in Ukraine. The letter is an unusually personal response from the First Lady to an ongoing foreign war. It shows how important the issue of Ukraine's missing and homeless children is to Washington. The meeting itself got a lot of attention around the world, but it's still not clear if real progress can be made in ending the war's social and political disasters. Melania Trump sends letter to Putin about abducted children — New York Post (@nypost) August 16, 2025 Reactions Around the World Human rights groups were glad that the suffering of Ukrainian children was brought to people's attention and asked both Washington and Moscow to put social issues ahead of political talks. Officials from the European Union also showed their support, saying that the safe return of fleeing children should be a "non-negotiable" part of any peace plan. Political Situation at Home There has been talk in the US about the role of First Ladies in diplomacy because of Melania Trump's participation. Some experts saw her message, which was mostly symbolic, as a strategy move to make Washington's stance on the war seem more human, which could appeal to people at home and around the world.
Roya News
19 hours ago
- Roya News
Zelenskyy to meet Trump on Monday in Washington to discuss ending war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Saturday that he will travel to Washington on Monday to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss ways to 'end the killing and the war.' The announcement came after Zelenskyy held a detailed phone call with Trump, during which the US president briefed him on the 'main points' of his recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. 'On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war,' Zelenskyy said. 'I am grateful for the invitation.' Zelenskyy described the call with Trump as a 'long and substantive conversation' that initially took place one-on-one before being joined by several European leaders. The Washington meeting is scheduled just three days after the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska concluded without a ceasefire or clear breakthrough in the ongoing conflict, which has lasted more than three years. Following the US-Russia summit, Zelenskyy called for Kyiv's European allies to be involved 'at every stage' of negotiations. He also reiterated Ukraine's willingness to participate in a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin, a format Kyiv has supported but which the Kremlin has previously resisted. 'Ukraine emphasises that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this,' Zelenskyy added.
