RUSSIA MANDATES STATE-BACKED "MAX" APP PRE-INSTALLED ON ALL DEVICES AS KREMLIN TIGHTENS DIGITAL CONTROL

Russia has ordered that all smartphones and connected devices sold in the country must now come with a state-backed app called “MAX” preinstalled, in a move critics say represents a dramatic escalation of digital control by the Kremlin.

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The mandate, announced by the Ministry of Digital Development this week, will apply to both foreign and domestic device makers beginning later this year.

A NEW ERA OF DIGITAL OVERSIGHT

The MAX app, described by officials as a “super app” for messaging, payments, government services, and media, will become a default feature on phones, tablets, and smart TVs across Russia. Authorities claim the move will make it easier for citizens to access state services and reduce reliance on Western platforms, many of which have been restricted or blocked since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

But analysts and human rights groups warn that the requirement signals a more aggressive push to centralize digital life under direct state supervision. “This isn’t just about convenience,” said one Moscow-based technology policy researcher. “It's about ensuring every digital interaction passes through a Kremlin-controlled gateway.”

PRESSURE ON TECH COMPANIES