Russia’s New MAX Messaging App Sparks Spying Fears

From first September, Russia’s new state-backed messaging app MAX will come pre-installed on every smartphone and tablet sold in the country, igniting strong concerns over data privacy and state monitoring.

Built by VK, the company behind Mail.ru and VKnote, the platform launched in March 2025 and has already drawn 18 million users, according to Interfax. Much like China’s WeChat, MAX blends private messaging with access to official government services.

Independent analyses commissioned by Forbes reveal that MAX includes aggressive tracking functions, weak security protections, and no end-to-end encryption, a combination that could leave conversations exposed to real-time monitoring. Researchers argue this places Russian users at greater risk than those relying on WhatsApp or Telegram. 

Digital rights advocates at Roskomsvoboda acknowledged that MAX requests fewer device permissions than its rivals, but warned that all communications are routed through state-controlled servers, making surveillance far easier. 

“MAX has enormous surveillance potential, as every piece of data within it can be accessed instantly by intelligence agencies,” said Ilya Perevalov, technical expert at Roskomsvoboda and RKS Global. 

He also cautioned that integrating paym

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