Jun 17, 2025
Starting in September 2025, all smartphones, tablets, and similar devices sold in Russia will be required to come pre-installed with a state-approved digital identity application. This unified platform aims to merge a broad array of services—government functions, financial transactions, messaging, and digital ID verification—into a single interface, marking a significant step toward deeper state integration into daily digital life. Recently passed legislation mandates that the platform be managed by a domestic company with at least 500,000 daily active users—companies already obligated under Russian law to monitor and censor content. Lawmakers argue the system will enhance digital sovereignty, with key officials describing it as a milestone in asserting national control over digital infrastructure.
Beyond convenience, however, the platform’s sweeping capabilities—allowing users to verify age, access social services, and conduct transactions for property or banking—have raised serious privacy and surveillance concerns. VKontakte, Russia’s dominant social network with deep ties to the state, is expected to lead the initiative, especially after launching its all-in-one app “Max,” which combines chat, payments, and service access. Some officials liken the platform to China’s WeChat, an “everything app” tightly integrated with government services. Critics warn that this comparison underscores the risk of unchecked data centralization and state surveillance. While Russian authorities promote the app as a convenience, independent observers see it as part of a broader strategy to tighten control over digital identities and communications in an increasingly monitored society.
Stay Awake. Keep Watch.
SOURCE: Reclaim the Net