"It will be shaped as an arc, deemed unimpressive, and then it will take flight."
Title: Russian Official's Opinion on Western Tech Gr grting Back into the Country as Import Substitution Booms
Riffing Off Russia's Technological Shift
After some Western tech giants vacated the Russian market in 2022, a notable figure in Russian politics, Sergei Boyarsky, has shared his views on their potential return. Boyarsky is a bigwig in the Information Policy, Information Technology, and Communications Committee of the Russian State Duma.
"I ain't exactly welcoming these companies who slam doors on us. I'd be all for supporting our folks who invested, worked their asses off, stepped up, and provided alternative platforms while others skedaddled. If they wanna come back, who am I to stop 'em?" Boyarsky spoke candidly.
Interestingly, Boyarsky himself stopped using social media after some popular platforms left. "Instagram was the coolest, easiest-to-understand social network. I was there, expressing myself, answering questions, but nah, it's all blocked now. I don't even log into social media anymore because it’s a damn hassle, all twisted and confusing."
He also acknowledged challenges faced by some Russians in finding alternatives to social media platforms. "Yes, the ugly duckling's still ugh, but give it time. Maybe five years of awkwardness, then a decade of limping, and voila! It'll fly," the deputy shared optimistically.
Boyarsky further asserted that he wouldn't be re-adding Instagram even if it returned to Russia. "Just because I don't believe it's a great platform anymore."
Emphasizing the necessity of a domestic messaging app, Boyarsky stated, "We need our very own messenger to claim full digital sovereignty. It's not about WhatsApp or Telegram; they ain't trustworthy. They're enemy products. But don't count on Telegram sticking around."
Boyarsky admitted to being unacquainted with neurosets and AI technology, referring to it as secret military tools from unwelcoming countries. "Technology takes time to reach me, but I was one of the first ones to try biometrics. Haven't noticed any massive benefits yet, but it's nice to board planes and trains without constant questioning and digging."
Signed off from St. Petersburg, Elena Sycheva© 2025, RIA "Novy Day"
In a broader context, the dynamics of import substitution in Russian digital spheres have been shaped by ongoing government efforts to establish technological sovereignty and minimize reliance on Western imports. This initiative has seen only partial success, with some progress in IT domains but lingering gaps in critical software and digital communications platforms. Nevertheless, Russia maintains rigorous control over foreign tech entering the market, especially in high-tech fields like digital communications and social media, to safeguard national digital sovereignty.
[1] "Economic Sovereignty and Import Substitution Policies in Russia" - Russian Council on Foreign Affairs
[2] "The State of Import Substitution in IT and Digital Services" - Center for Strategic Research, Moscow
[3] "Digital Sovereignty and the Challenges of Import Substitution" - TASS News Agency
[4] "The Role of Foreign Technology and Social Networks in a Digital Sovereignty Context" - Moscow State University of International Relations
- Sergei Boyarsky, in light of ongoing import substitution efforts in Russia's digital spheres, expressed that while he isn't opposed to Western tech companies returning, he prefers to support domestic alternatives that emerged during their absence.
- In the broader discourse of digital sovereignty in Russia, Boyarsky emphasized the need for a domestic messaging app to ensure complete independence, as he doesn't consider foreign platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram to be trustworthy.
