Russia's MAX App: A Tool for Government Control and Internet Isolation

Strategic Insights -

As President Vladimir Putin tightens his grip on the internet, Russians are being pushed towards a state-controlled messaging app, MAX. The app's parent company, VK, has seen over 45 million users sign up in recent months, with 18 million using it daily on average. MAX's rollout is part of a broader effort to create a "sovereign internet" in Russia, which would allow the government to control and censor online content.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Russian government has been restricting access to popular messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram, citing concerns over online fraud and criminal activity.
  • The restrictions have led to significant hassles for Russian users, who rely on the apps for communication and to save money on mobile plans.
  • MAX, the state-controlled messaging app, has been promoted as a solution to these issues, but it lacks end-to-end encryption and may transfer user data to government bodies.
  • The Russian authorities have presented MAX as a way to build the country's "digital sovereignty," but experts warn that the app's true purpose is to allow for government control and surveillance.
  • Over 45 million people have signed up for MAX, and 18 million use it daily on average, excluding foreigners from the service.
  • The Russian government has been promoting the app through various channels, including schools, billboards, and celebrity endorsements.
  • The authorities have also been clamping down on VPNs, pushing for their removal from app stores and making it illegal to advertise or use them for access to banned content.
  • Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine have reported difficulties keeping in touch with relatives at home due to the limits on WhatsApp and Telegram.
  • VK, the Russian social network behind MAX, is controlled by the state and a close friend of Mr. Putin's through a complex ownership structure.

Statistics:

  • 45 million: The number of people who have created MAX accounts
  • 18 million: The average number of people using MAX daily
  • 30%: The proportion of the Russian population that has signed up for MAX
  • 45% of the Russian population: The number of people who have remained connected using the original apps after the restrictions
  • >10% of the Russian population: The number of people who have switched to using VPNs
  • 2020: The year when the government introduced the restrictions on social media and messaging apps and having online platforms under control to maintain strength locally
  • 2022: The present, with the authorities going further into pushing users toward MAX.

Sources:

  • [1] Paul Sonne and Alina Lobzina, "In Russia, It's Hard to Escape MAX, the New State-Controlled Messaging App" The New York Times, October 2022
  • [2] Philipp Dietrich, "The Russian Internet" German Council on Foreign Relations, 2022
  • [3] Vkontakte (VK), "MAX, the new messaging app" VK website, October 2022.