SCO countries should develop their own digital resources rather than depending on foreign tech giants, a Digital Development Ministry official has said
Russia is urging members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to develop their own digital platforms to reduce dependence on Western media giants.
The SCO comprises China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.
Speaking at an SCO media forum in Kyrgyzstan on Friday, Russian Digital Development Ministry official Ekaterina Larina said Western platforms had amassed “huge influence” over global audiences which could be used to shape public opinion and information flows.
“All SCO countries one way or another enter negotiations with global platforms, trying to reach certain agreements on rules,” Larina said. “But an important area in ensuring information security remains the development of our own resources and platforms.”
Moscow has long argued that states should exercise greater sovereignty over their national information spaces and reduce dependence on foreign-controlled digital infrastructure.
The forum, organized by Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy, brought together around 100 delegates from SCO member states, including government officials, media executives, digital platform representatives, and industry experts.
Addressing the participants, Kyrgyz Culture Minister Mirbek Mambetaliev called for closer cooperation among SCO media outlets, saying stronger ties could help create a shared information space based on trust and partnership.
The event features discussions on media digitalization, the use of artificial intelligence in journalism, and the growing role of online platforms in shaping news consumption. Participants are also expected to explore joint media initiatives and broader cooperation as digital technologies continue to transform the global information landscape.