Russian officials obliged to use only domestic messengers

Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation stated the requirement for the use of domestic messengers, mail and video conferencing services for civil servants and employees of governmental organizations.

These measures are necessary to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access.
Messengers made a convenient tool for the exchange of confidential information and personal data. This is also true for emails, chats, group video and voice conferences. Now such communications are conducted mainly in free cloud services that do not provide security to the transmitted information.

Ministry of Digital Development prepares a regulatory framework for transferring state employees to state-owned platforms by December 2021.

In 2022, the initiative is planned to be extended to representatives of schools and universities, who will be able to communicate with parents, schoolchildren and students only through Russian IT services.