Overview

• The State Duma on June 10 passed draft legislation authorizing creation of a national messaging service styled as a “super app” to rival WhatsApp and Telegram
• The proposal now moves to the Federation Council before requiring President Putin’s signature to become law
• Deputy information policy committee head Anton Gorelkin said the platform will integrate messaging, calls and functions like electronic document signing with government services
• President Vladimir Putin formally endorsed the initiative on June 4, directing federal agencies and financial institutions to shift services to the new platform
• State-controlled VK is reportedly developing a digital platform called Max that could serve as the technical basis for the service