Kremlin-backed Max messenger app to be pre-installed on all smartphones in Russia

The Russian government has announced that the state-supported messaging app Max will soon be compulsory on all smartphones and tablets sold in the country. The move, which takes effect on September 1, is the latest step in Moscow’s drive to promote homegrown digital platforms and tighten control over online communications.

Mandatory Apps Across Devices

According to an official government statement, Max will be pre-installed alongside RuStore, Russia’s domestically developed alternative to Apple’s App Store. Even iPhones sold in Russia will now come with RuStore by default.

The policy is not limited to mobile devices. Starting January 1, Smart TVs will also be required to carry the Lime HD TV program, an app that provides free access to Russian state-run television channels.

This expansion of state-mandated apps represents a broader strategy to embed Russian-controlled platforms into everyday digital life, reducing reliance on Western services and giving authorities more oversight.

The Rise of Max

Max was launched in March by VK, the state-controlled tech group that owns Russia’s largest social media platform. The app replaced VK Messenger, which had already been on the government’s list of compulsory apps since 2023.

The platform currently supports text messaging, voice and video calls, and money transfers, with plans to add travel booking and other integrated services. Its design and function draw comparisons to China’s WeChat, which combines social networking, payments, and booking systems in a single app under heavy government monitoring.

Since its debut, Max has attracted around 18 million registered users, according to figures released by Russian state news agency TASS.

Curbing Foreign Platforms

The rollout of Max coincides with Russia’s increasing restrictions on foreign digital services. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X are already banned, while regulators recently placed new limits on WhatsApp and Telegram, including curbs on voice calls. Officials framed these measures as necessary “to counter criminals,” though critics argue they are part of a broader attempt to drive users toward Russian-made alternatives.

Human rights groups warn that the campaign is deliberately making foreign apps harder to use. “This, along with active state-sponsored promotion of Russian alternatives, forced a growing number of users to switch,” wrote Anastasiia Kruope of Human Rights Watch in a July report.

Security analysts Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan described the strategy as “a sustained attack” on WhatsApp intended to push Russians into adopting Max. “The policy is likely to work, especially if the population is given no choice,” they noted.

Power and Control Behind the App

VK, the developer of Max, was co-founded in 2006 by Pavel Durov, who also created Telegram. Durov left the company in 2014 after clashing with the Kremlin over censorship demands and refusals to hand over user data.

Today, VK is led by Vladimir Kiriyenko, the son of Sergey Kiriyenko, one of President Vladimir Putin’s top aides. The leadership ties underscore the close alignment between VK and the Russian state, fueling concerns that Max could become another tool of surveillance.

What This Means for Users

Unlike WhatsApp and Telegram, which rely on end-to-end encryption, Max does not prevent third parties from accessing communications. Experts suggest this makes it easier for the Russian government to monitor conversations and track activity.

The mandatory installation of Max and other state-linked apps reflects Moscow’s push to create a closed, tightly regulated digital ecosystem. Critics argue this system prioritizes state oversight over privacy and freedom, but officials maintain it ensures security and independence from Western platforms.