Media learned of plans to ban officials and military use WhatsApp – RBC

Photo: DPA / TASS

The Ministry of economic development proposes to legislatively ban military and civil servants to use mobile applications, WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram for official purposes. To exchange information they will be obliged to use Russian messengers for government agencies, the possibility of developing that in late April, was discussed at a meeting at the Presidential Adviser on the internet Herman Klimenko

Russian officials and military personnel are prohibited from working through correspondence Foreign mobile app developers. It is reported by “Kommersant” with reference to the report of the Ministry of Economic Development.

As it became known publication, the Ministry has made a report with proposals on priority purchases of Russian software and hardware to President Vladimir Putin on May 26.

The Ministry proposes to establish a legislative ban on the use of civil servants and the military in service to a foreign software, including mobile applications such as WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram. It is also proposed to prohibit conduct a working conversation with mailboxes on Gmail.com.

According to the publication ministry spokesman Elena Lashkina, use only Russian messenger is scheduled for official purposes. According to her, this position is consistent with the Ministry of Communications and Mass Communications, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as well as the development of the Internet Research Institute (IRI).

April 28 the possibility of creating a special messenger for government agencies was discussed at the president advisor meeting on the internet Herman Klimenko. Explore subjects were asked to Mail.Ru Group.

Also in the report of the Ministry of Economic Development to the President contains proposals to extend restrictions on the purchase of foreign software in state bodies.

As told “Kommersant” one of the civil servants, the use of foreign software for work correspondence rose especially sharply after numerous leaks of confidential information, organized by a group of hackers Shaltay Boltay.

In July 2014 Shaltay Boltay broke into a mailbox on Gmail.com Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich and published his correspondence. It confirmed the authenticity of the newspaper “Vedomosti” two people whose letters were published.

In August 2014, hackers published a conversation with more than one account at Gmail.com and Yandex.ru, allegedly belonging to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The letters referred to a failed attempt to buy watches Casio G-Shock through the online store Amazon.com. On the same day the prime minister was hacked account on Twitter, where there was a message: “resign. It is a shame for the actions of the government. I’m sorry. »

In August 2015 Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev demanded that the governor to take action against officials who use foreign services Google, Yahoo and WhatsApp. Patrushev stressed that the use of officials to address issues of service resources located abroad, is a serious threat.

March 28, 2016 it became known that the Moscow police officer forbade send service information through instant messengers and social networks. As told RBC law enforcement source, the order on limiting communication messengers could be due to the fact that before it became known about the division of the police officers who share information via WhatsApp and Viber. Through messengers they received from superiors cleaning schedule and information about who and what positions should take.

In February 2016, “Radio Liberty” published an article, which contained correspondence which allegedly led Moscow investigators in WhatsApp and Viber application. It discusses the fabrication of criminal cases of car theft. The article pointed out that the correspondence fell into the hands of journalists after losing investigator phone.

Last November, an MP from the Communist Party Vadim Solovyov introduced the State Duma a draft law with the amendments to art. 17 of the Law “On State Civil Service in the Russian Federation.” Soloviev proposed to ban foreign officials to use instant messenger and search engines in order to ensure security of proprietary information. However, in March 2016 the State Duma rejected the bill.