Russia Builds a New Web Around Kremlin’s Handpicked Super App

The Russian government is actively working to build a new, Kremlin-controlled internet infrastructure, centered around a state-backed "super app" called MyGov. This initiative aims to replace foreign tech services with domestic alternatives that are under the government's influence. The move is part of a broader crackdown on foreign digital platforms, with restrictions being placed on services like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. In their place, the government is promoting homegrown apps and services, such as the state-run social media platform VKontakte and the messaging app Telegram. The MyGov super app is intended to consolidate a wide range of government services and functions, from social media to e-government, under a single platform. This allows the Kremlin to exert tighter control over the digital landscape and monitor citizen activities more closely. The shift towards a state-controlled internet infrastructure in Russia is seen as an effort to limit the flow of independent information and tighten the government's grip on digital communication channels.