Starting next month, all phones and tablets purchased in Russia must come with a state-backed messaging app named Max pre-installed. Critics claim it can be used to track users, positioning it as a competitor to WhatsApp.
The initiative to promote Max is tied to Moscow’s effort to exert more internet control amid ongoing conflict with the West, particularly regarding Ukraine. The Kremlin has announced that Max, which will connect with government services, is among the mandated pre-installed applications for all “gadgets,” including phones and tablets sold in Russia since September 1. This week, the company behind Max reported 18 million downloads, although some users are still testing the app.
State media has suggested that critics of the Kremlin label Max as a spy app, but it reportedly has fewer permissions to access user data compared to competitors like WhatsApp and Telegram.
From September 1, Max will also be pre-installed on Apple devices via Rustore, a domestic app store that is included on all Android devices. Additionally, a Russian-language TV app named Lime HD TV will be available for free access to state TV channels, and will be pre-installed on all smart TVs sold in Russia since January 1.
This drive to promote local applications follows Russia’s announcement that it will start limiting calls on WhatsApp, owned by the Meta platform, and Telegram.
WhatsApp, which had approximately 97.3 million users in Russia as of July, accused Moscow of attempting to restrict secure communication access for Russians, while Telegram, with a user base of about 90 million, stated it would actively combat the misuse of its platform.
As per MediaScope data, VK Messenger was the third most popular messaging app in July, boasting 17.9 million users. VK, the state-managed tech company behind Max, also provides VK Messenger.
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The Russian Interior Ministry reported on Wednesday that Max is a safer alternative to its foreign counterparts and has already implicated a suspect in the first fraud case involving this new messaging platform.
Source: www.theguardian.com
