Russia prepares for a war on WhatsApp

Hello! This week we look at Russia’s plans to create a domestic messenger platform – and why that spells trouble for the almost 100 million Russian WhatsApp users.

Putin backs creation of ‘national messenger’

Russian authorities are moving towards blocking the last major foreign online service that had been – until now – untouchable: WhatsApp. In his first speech after Ukraine’s attack on Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, Vladimir Putin unexpectedly addressed what he called the urgent need to establish a “national messenger”. It’s already clear who will be in charge of the project, with preparations well underway.

What’s going on?

Putin discussed making a national messenger with Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev in a televised government meeting Wednesday, the same event at which he commented on a series of explosions on railroad bridges, criticised the “terrorist Kyiv regime” and questioned the point of peace talks with the current Ukrainian leadership. The fact the messenger project was on the same agenda as peace talks and an attack which derailed a train and killed seven people shows its importance to the Kremlin.

More than 90 million people in Russia use messengers made by companies outside Russia. Several countries, such as China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam all already have their own Shadayev told Putin, as he called for the development of a “wholly Russian messenger,” which would be managed by VK, the tech conglomerate that owns VKontakte, Russia’s version of Facebook. Russia’s messenger would match any foreign competitor and video calls would be even better, Shadayev said. A Russian system would also facilitate integration with other services, allowing Russian banks, for example, to securely interact with clients.

In the choreographed exchange, Putin gave his backing to the initiative, and insisted that all state digital services should migrate to the system. He also urged to do more to boost the Russian internet space in general. “Without this it will be very hard to support our messenger,” he said.

Putin’s statement sent Russian officials and lawmakers into a frenzy. News feeds instantly filled up with claims about how wonderful this national messenger would be. MP Anton Gorelkin, notorious for his attacks on Russian tech companies Yandex and Avito, targeted Telegram, a rival for the prospective state messenger. “If Telegram strives to comply with the laws of the countries in which it operates, it will not come to such extreme measures,” he said.

Why does it matter?

Messengers are the final digital service where foreign companies still have a complete stranglehold on the Russian market, operating beyond the Kremlin’s reach. In most other areas, there is a dominant, or rising, Russian player. Yandex has long been the favoured outlet for search and VKontakte is the country’s major social network. After China’s Aliexpress left Russia, every major online marketplace is also home-grown.