Starting September 1, Russia will pre-install the domestic messaging application Max on all mobile devices sold in the country, aiming to bolster digital sovereignty amid reduced reliance on Western tech. Announced by Kremlin officials, the initiative integrates Max with state services, facilitating access to public resources. Though it garnered 18 million downloads in its first week, critics raise privacy concerns about user surveillance. The state defends Max as safer than foreign alternatives.
Starting September 1, Russia will pre-install the domestic messaging application Max on all mobile devices sold in the country, aiming to bolster digital sovereignty amid reduced reliance on Western tech. Announced by Kremlin officials, the initiative integrates Max with state services, facilitating access to public resources. Though it garnered 18 million downloads in its first week, critics raise privacy concerns about user surveillance. The state defends Max as safer than foreign alternatives.