Latest news with #InternetProtectionSociety
The Herald
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald
Putin authorises creation of state messaging app to combat WhatsApp and Telegram
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a law authorising the development of a state-backed messaging app integrated with government services as Moscow strives to reduce its dependence on platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram. Russia has long sought to establish what it calls digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services. Its push to replace foreign tech platforms became more urgent as some Western companies pulled out of the Russian market after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian lawmakers said the state app will have functionality that Telegram and Meta Platforms' WhatsApp do not. Critics said the fact that Russia will exercise state control over it poses risks to privacy and personal freedoms. Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, a Russian digital rights group, said earlier this month he expected Russia to slow the speeds of WhatsApp and Telegram to encourage people to switch over to the new app. Reuters
TimesLIVE
9 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Putin authorises creation of state messaging app to combat WhatsApp and Telegram
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a law authorising the development of a state-backed messaging app integrated with government services as Moscow strives to reduce its dependence on platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram. Russia has long sought to establish what it calls digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services. Its push to replace foreign tech platforms became more urgent as some Western companies pulled out of the Russian market after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian lawmakers said the state app will have functionality that Telegram and Meta Platforms' WhatsApp do not. Critics said the fact that Russia will exercise state control over it poses risks to privacy and personal freedoms. Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, a Russian digital rights group, said earlier this month he expected Russia to slow the speeds of WhatsApp and Telegram to encourage people to switch over to the new app.
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Putin authorises creation of state messaging app to combat WhatsApp and Telegram
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a law authorising the development of a state-backed messaging app integrated with government services, as Moscow strives to reduce its dependence on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. Russia has long sought to establish what it calls digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services. Its push to replace foreign tech platforms became more urgent as some Western companies pulled out of the Russian market following Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian lawmakers say the state app will have functionality that the likes of Telegram and Meta Platforms' WhatsApp do not. Critics say the fact that Russia will exercise state control over it poses risks to privacy and personal freedoms. Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, a Russian digital rights group, said earlier this month he expected Russia to slow the speeds of WhatsApp and Telegram to encourage people to switch over to the new app.
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Russia to launch govt-backed chat app, raising surveillance fears as WhatsApp and Telegram sidelined
MOSCOW, June 25 — Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday signed a law authorising the development of a state-backed messaging app integrated with government services, as Moscow strives to reduce its dependence on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. Russia has long sought to establish what it calls digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services. Its push to replace foreign tech platforms became more urgent as some Western companies pulled out of the Russian market following Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian lawmakers say the state app will have functionality that the likes of Telegram and Meta Platforms' WhatsApp do not. Critics say the fact that Russia will exercise state control over it poses risks to privacy and personal freedoms. Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, a Russian digital rights group, said earlier this month he expected Russia to slow the speeds of WhatsApp and Telegram to encourage people to switch over to the new app. — Reuters
Al Bawaba
20 hours ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Putin pushes digital sovereignty with state messaging app
ALBAWABA- In a significant move toward digital independence, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new law on Tuesday authorizing the development of a state-backed messaging platform integrated with government services. Also Read U.S. bans WhatsApp on government devices 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.
