russia Is Rapidly Moving Towards Digital Totalitarianism

After a quarter of a century of authoritarian rule, the kremlin has reached another milestone: the dismantling of the vestiges of citizens’ digital autonomy.

By September 1, the government of the rf is to consider additional restrictions on foreign software. The WhatsApp messenger is under attack. moscow accuses the platform of failing to comply with the requirements for localization of personal data and refusing to cooperate with special services.

At the same time, putin has signed a law creating the Max messenger integrated with government services, digital ID, and banking services. Starting in September, it will be installed on all new devices. The new app’s infrastructure is controlled by VK, whose CEO is Vladimir Kiriyenko, the son of the first deputy chief of the kremlin’s administration, and whose social media is run by Stepan Kovalchuk, the great nephew of putin’s “personal banker”. Max’s popularity (according to officials) does not exceed 2 million users, while WhatsApp is used by more than 84 million russians.

The kremlin also makes no secret of its intentions to create a “sovereign” state VPN that will filter out “undesirable” content and allow only the government–approved traffic. Official rhetoric is limited to accusing the West of “undermining stability”. The Minister of Digital Development has called VPNs an element of information warfare rather than a tool of freedom.

At the same time, the government is promoting domestic software, despite its poor quality, which even government agencies are rejecting.

Digital isolation, blocking of services, censorship, and the creation of controlled communication platforms mark the next stage in the strengthening of the totalitarian regime.