Russia Approves State Backed Messaging App As It Considers Blocking WhatsApp

Russia’s State Duma  has passed legislation mandating the development of a national instant messaging platform by 2026, designed to replace foreign apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram for official and public use, according to the bill adopted on June 10.

The document specifies that the government will designate a single, state-sanctioned app for official communications, while prohibiting government employees from using foreign messengers.

“The new service will perform functions of the national messenger for correspondence, telephone calls, and will also become the platform to receive public and commercial services,” TASS reported.

The proposed system will require a fully Russian operated infrastructure and dedicated encryption model. While the name of the app has not yet been disclosed, officials insist the service will provide “better functionality and security” than current Western options.

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Once the new system is deployed, all federal and regional government entities, as well as state corporations, will be required to adopt it. A government decree will determine the exact transition timeline. Main competitors of the proposed system are Telegram, which remains widely popular in Russia despite state scrutiny, and WhatsApp that is already banned for official use.

Reuters reported that the measure also aligns with Moscow’s efforts to shift to domestic software across all state agencies, citing national security risks from foreign digital ecosystems countering what Russia calls “digital colonization.”

Earlier it was reported that Russian authorities are moving to implement a central bank digital currency. The digital ruble, scheduled for a nationwide rollout in 2026, will enable direct state oversight of citizens’ financial transactions, drawing criticism from rights groups who say the system could be used for mass surveillance.

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