Russia is planning to establish a National Information Platform based on the “Dzen” news aggregator, which will be mandatory for integration into the websites and apps of social networks, marketplaces, video services, and other internet platforms. The proposal was initiated by the VK holding, and the government is already drafting necessary amendments to the law “On Information,” according to an informed source cited by Kommersant. The bill, which will formalize the status of the National Information Platform and its regulatory mechanism, is expected to be submitted to the State Duma in May 2026.
Key Details of the Reform:
- Mandatory Integration: According to a VK presentation, a “Dzen” news block featuring the “Top 5 News” will be placed as a widget on the homepages of social networks and search engines. On other platforms, a button leading to a “Top 15 News” section will be required.
- Target Audience: Services with a daily active audience of more than 5 million people must install the widget immediately after the law is passed. Smaller platforms will be granted a six-month grace period.
- Government Oversight: The Russian government will select the media outlets whose headlines appear in the “Dzen” news block. It will also appoint the National Platform’s operator for a five-year term.
- Financial Incentives: To sweeten the deal, VK proposes sharing advertising revenue with the platforms that host the widget and providing financial support to the media outlets featured in the feed.
Analytical Summary:
The creation of the National Information Platform marks the final stage in the transformation of the Russian internet into a space of “seamless” state propaganda. This project effectively destroys the last remnants of algorithmic independence, even on commercial and non-political platforms.
“Seamless” Exposure: The authorities are attempting to burst the “filter bubbles” of users who try to escape political agendas by spending time on neutral services like online shopping, cinema, or music. Now, a user looking for groceries on a marketplace will still be confronted with the state’s interpretation of events. This is a strategy of “inescapable information noise.”
Economic Bribery: By offering to share ad revenue, VK is attempting to mitigate the backlash from businesses. Forcing a foreign and potentially toxic news module onto a shopping app could lower user conversion and damage the brand, so the government is trying to buy compliance.
The Death of Media Competition: Since the government will curate the list of “approved” media for the aggregator, any alternative news sources—even loyalist ones that aren’t “disciplined” enough—will be completely cut off from traffic. The system essentially becomes a digital version of the Soviet-era news program “Vremya,” broadcast on every channel simultaneously.
Forecast: The integration of this platform will likely degrade the user experience across the Runet. Marketplaces and video services will become less convenient, and public apathy or distrust toward information will likely grow. Technically, this also provides a “kill switch”: any resource refusing to embed the state module can be easily designated as a lawbreaker and blocked.