Starting September 1, 2025, all new smartphones sold in Russia will be required to come pre-installed with MAX, a state-developed messaging app, as mandated by a new federal law.
This move, part of Russia’s push for “digital sovereignty,” aims to create a centralized platform that integrates messaging, government services, digital signatures, and instant payments, positioning MAX as a Russian equivalent to China’s WeChat. The law reflects the Kremlin’s efforts to control the country’s digital ecosystem and reduce reliance on foreign apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Developed by a Kremlin-controlled tech giant, MAX is designed to be more than a messaging app. It offers audio and video calls, access to public services like paying fines or booking appointments, and integration with an AI neural network for enhanced functionality. Russian officials have been ordered to switch to MAX by September 1, with schools testing its use for communication between teachers, students, and parents.
The app’s deep integration into daily life — handling everything from government interactions to financial transactions — raises significant privacy concerns. Unlike WhatsApp or Signal, MAX lacks end-to-end encryption, and its policy allows user data, including IP addresses and location information, to be shared with government agencies, prompting critics to label it a “digital gulag.”
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The law aligns with Russia’s ongoing crackdown on foreign tech platforms, intensified since 2022. The parent company of WhatsApp has been designated an “extremist organization,” and WhatsApp faces a potential ban, with 68% of Russians currently using it daily. The Kremlin’s goal is to funnel users into a state-monitored ecosystem, with MAX as its cornerstone.
However, experts doubt its ability to fully replace popular apps, citing past failed attempts to push domestic alternatives and the lack of robust privacy protections. As Russia moves toward a tightly controlled internet, MAX’s mandatory installation marks a bold step in reshaping how its citizens communicate and interact online.
