Russia will build its own messaging app for public use, citing security risks with WhatsApp and Telegram, and plans to make it mandatory in government institutions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ordering the development of a national messaging application, local media reported on Tuesday. The initiative aims to create a secure domestic alternative for communication, especially within public institutions.
The Ministry of Digital Development stated that work on the app is already underway. It cited security vulnerabilities in widely used foreign messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram as the primary reason behind the decision.
According to Russian media, the new app may be modelled after China’s WeChat and could be built upon Max, an existing messaging platform developed by Russian tech company VK.
Officials say the app will be pre-installed on new smartphones sold in the country. Moreover, it will be made compulsory for operations in public-sector bodies, as part of efforts to enhance cybersecurity and digital sovereignty.
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Russia has carried out its most extensive aerial attack over a two-day period since the start of its full-scale invasion, striking Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with hundreds of drones, Ukrainian officials said.
U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping are set to meet on Friday (15 May) to wrap up a two-day state visit that has featured pomp and business deals but also a warning from Xi that mishandling the Taiwan issue could send relations spiraling.
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