The Kremlin instituted restrictions on the civilian use of virtual private networks (VPN) and U.S.-built technology at the beginning of September, ostensibly fearing that the U.S. government is using the technology to sow internal discord in Russia. The Russian Duma approved legislation on July 15 to create a national messaging system, known as “Max,” that will combine communications with state services, similar to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) WeChat. These measures fit into Moscow’s broader project of creating a sovereign internet space, which includes banning foreign messaging platforms, restricting VPN use, and the continued crackdown on civilian digital encryption.
Kremlin’s New Moves Towards ‘Internet Sovereignty’ – Jamestown
