Russia pushes ‘sovereign internet' via Max messenger

Russia is pushing its Max messenger - a social media platform without encryption - onto its citizens with a massive promotion campaign and the simultaneous blocking of Whatsapp and Telegram, the country’s two most popular messenger apps.

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The roll-out has raised concerns among critics and digital rights groups that Moscow will use Max to surveil its citizens and further cut digital links to the West.

"Any data that passes through this application can be considered to be in the hands of the Russian state," cybersecurity researcher Baptiste Robert, CEO of the French company Predicta Lab, said.

Launched in 2025 by Russian social media giant VK, the app has been compared to China’s WeChat, combining social media and messaging functions with access to government services, a digital ID card system, banking and payments.

It is not officially mandatory, but the authorities are making it clear that life without Max will become increasingly hard.