Russia orders state-backed Max messaging app preinstalled on all devices

[midian182]

What just happened? Russia has mandated that all mobile phones and tablets sold in the country come preinstalled with Max, a state-backed messaging app widely seen as a government surveillance tool. The move comes just a week after the country began restricting WhatsApp and Telegram features, punishing the app operators for refusing to hand over user data.

Max will replace a standalone messaging app made by Russian tech giant VK, which has been a piece of mandatory preinstalled software on devices since 2023, writes The Moscow Times. Russia has required smartphones, tablets, and computers to carry domestic software since 2021, a law that critics see as an effort to curb online freedoms and monitor citizens' activities.

Russia has been fighting foreign messaging services and pushing domestic equivalents for years, often using the argument that its citizens' user data must be stored in Russia. The campaign has ramped up since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022; the government repeatedly claims Ukraine uses Telegram to recruit people and commit acts of terrorism in Russia.

Max, which will be integrated with government services, will be added to the list of mandatory preinstalled apps on September 1. On the same date, RuStore, Russia's domestic app store, must be preinstalled on all Apple devices – it is already preinstalled on all Android devices.

The Kremlin recently ordered government officials and lawmakers to migrate their Telegram channels to Max. It came after Roskomnadzor, Russia's media and internet regulator, said that "in order to counteract criminals," measures were being taken to restrict voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. Russia accused the apps of failing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases.

The government reportedly decided to stop short of immediately blocking WhatsApp and Telegram and start by banning voice calls – they barely function on Telegram and are plagued by buzzing and distorted audio on WhatsApp. The apps have combined user base of almost 200 million people in Russia.

Roskomnadzor said the voice functions will be restored after the apps start complying with Russian legislation. That's extremely unlikely to happen, so an outright ban could be the next step.

Russia's authorities say tightening control over its citizens' online activities is necessary to prevent terrorism and protect children, but opponents say the reality has little to do with protecting people.

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Russia orders state-backed Max messaging app preinstalled on all devices

 

[kingmustard]

They really are becoming North Korea

 

[Kashim]

They really are becoming North Korea

Yes, and this is the country/dictator Republicans love so much. I wonder why?

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Yes, and this is the country/dictator Republicans love so much. I wonder why?

You and I both wish Trump was a quarter as based as you think he is.

 

[VitalyT]

Russia is in the active war state, and during such times, tightening security like this is normal. Once the war ends, the extra measures of security will be retired.

 

[toooooot]

Like everything else government controlled in Russia, it will be sh*t. And complete surveillance is guaranteed. Telegram and WhatsApp are living their last days in Russia it seems.
I just hope this sorry *** country collapses soon. There is not a single human being that will lose anything if this 30 yo country stops existing, except for those who ruled it for the last 25 years.
A happy Russian can only be happy if this giant miserable piece of land is divided into 100 countries each consisting of their own ethnicity.
Did you know that a man from one of those small nations Russia conquered hundreds of years ago is 3-4 times more likely to be forced to go to war? Russians are not just ruling them, they are using them as slave soldiers. Russians take every mineral from their lands, but giving them nothing in return, making life in those regions very similar to typical African countries.
Let this country rot and be finished. But for the love of everything dear, don't you dare help it rise from the ashes again, USA. Don't you f**g allow this beast to heal and return to killing.

 

[hahahanoobs]

Guess how he was able to get this far?
Russian citizens.

How many more decades have to pass before people start getting tired of the bs?

 

[RudyBob]

Even if you don't want stale bread it's all we have. Be grateful. NEXT!

 

[p51d007]

Like everything else government controlled in Russia, it will be sh*t. And complete surveillance is guaranteed. Telegram and WhatsApp are living their last days in Russia it seems.
I just hope this sorry *** country collapses soon. There is not a single human being that will lose anything if this 30 yo country stops existing, except for those who ruled it for the last 25 years.
A happy Russian can only be happy if this giant miserable piece of land is divided into 100 countries each consisting of their own ethnicity.
Did you know that a man from one of those small nations Russia conquered hundreds of years ago is 3-4 times more likely to be forced to go to war? Russians are not just ruling them, they are using them as slave soldiers. Russians take every mineral from their lands, but giving them nothing in return, making life in those regions very similar to typical African countries.
Let this country rot and be finished. But for the love of everything dear, don't you dare help it rise from the ashes again, USA. Don't you f**g allow this beast to heal and return to killing.

That's been how Russia/Soviet union has done pretty much since Peter the Great. They conqueror other territories to put much needed "cushion" between mother Russia and other countries that may try to invade. Then, in the event of a war, those "non natural" Russian countries are used as "canon fodder" in hopes of wearing down the invader, to protect mother Russia.
Putin is old school KGB came up during the USSR period. He's been wanting to "put the band back together" (USSR) since he came to power.

 

[Mark Fuller]

Russia is in the active war state, and during such times, tightening security like this is normal. Once the war ends, the extra measures of security will be retired.

I don't think that they did anything such as that during the cold war as I remember and even after it ended. And just what are they at war over? Maybe some missing resources.

 

[Mark Fuller]

Even if you don't want stale bread it's all we have. Be grateful. NEXT!

You all surely must realize what our own government is doing at this time, not to mention what they allow the big boys to do behind our backs.

 

[NumberNine]

Stuff like this is the result of small people sitting in big chairs.

 

[umeng2002]

They really are becoming like the EU.

 

[kinetix]

Like everything else government controlled in Russia, it will be sh*t. And complete surveillance is guaranteed. Telegram and WhatsApp are living their last days in Russia it seems.
I just hope this sorry *** country collapses soon. There is not a single human being that will lose anything if this 30 yo country stops existing, except for those who ruled it for the last 25 years.
A happy Russian can only be happy if this giant miserable piece of land is divided into 100 countries each consisting of their own ethnicity.
Did you know that a man from one of those small nations Russia conquered hundreds of years ago is 3-4 times more likely to be forced to go to war? Russians are not just ruling them, they are using them as slave soldiers. Russians take every mineral from their lands, but giving them nothing in return, making life in those regions very similar to typical African countries.
Let this country rot and be finished. But for the love of everything dear, don't you dare help it rise from the ashes again, USA. Don't you f**g allow this beast to heal and return to killing.

Seriously, propaganda and PR turn some people's minds to mush.
30-year country? I think from the first millennium to 2025, there's a little over 30 years.
Forced to go to war? No one there is forced to go to war. Anyone who wants to can enlist and sign a contract with their army. Unlike a certain other country where manhunts for cannon fodder in the streets are a disgrace.
Really? Are you asking something like that from that last country?

 

[kinetix]

Excellent, this is what every self-respecting country should do. Keep its communication channels internal, not controlled by external actors.

 

[RudyBob]

You all surely must realize what our own government is doing at this time, not to mention what they allow the big boys to do behind our backs.

No I don't live in Russia so no I don't realize the USA tells us to be quiet and like it unless you are talking about Biden's border

 

[Liranan]

The NSA installs spyware and backdoors in Cisco routers: FREEDOM!!
The NSA has offices in all major telecom companies in the US: FREEDOM!!
The NSA collect all clicks on the internet, stores them in their massive Utah datacentre: FREEDOM!!
Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc. have direct links to DARPA: FREEDOM!!
They are all pillars of state spying, from Echelon to Prism to Palantir and all the others we don't know about: FREEDOM!!

Russia and China ban all foreign spyware: DICTATORSHIP!!

 

[Mark Fuller]

Excellent, this is what every self-respecting country should do. Keep its communication channels internal, not controlled by external actors.

Our communication channels are controlled by three entities. The Hollywood propaganda machine, the advertising mecca of Madison Avenue who dictates just what producers can tell people about their good and services, and the Liberal Press Media (also know as the misappropriations committee). I think it is actually the legislative, judicial and executive branches who are really supposed to be in charge.

 

[AnilD]

The irony is that by crippling WhatsApp and Telegram instead of outright banning them, Russia basically created the worst of both worlds. You can delete icons all you want, but the ghost of surveillance is still sitting there in your app drawer.

 

[BuckarooBonzaii]

The EU still wants to scan all chats, access to all text messages and back doors to encrypted apps. Of course their reasons are the same everywhere. Only difference is the Russians had beaten them to it.

 

[umeng2002]

The NSA installs spyware and backdoors in Cisco routers: FREEDOM!!
The NSA has offices in all major telecom companies in the US: FREEDOM!!
The NSA collect all clicks on the internet, stores them in their massive Utah datacentre: FREEDOM!!
Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc. have direct links to DARPA: FREEDOM!!
They are all pillars of state spying, from Echelon to Prism to Palantir and all the others we don't know about: FREEDOM!!

Russia and China ban all foreign spyware: DICTATORSHIP!!

Well, the issue is that what the NSA does is basically Unconstitutional; but politicians let them get away with it.

 

[ferrellsl]

Amazing how some people make everything about Trump....there's truth to the statement about him living rent-free in some folks' heads.

 

[Str8Shot]

Apps are NSA backdoors, the more you have the more you become an open book, all in the name of convenience.

 

[Str8Shot]

Well, the issue is that what the NSA does is basically Unconstitutional; but politicians let them get away with it.

The NSA doesn’t work for us, it works for the Kosherats that own this country and its politicians lock stock and barrel. It’s been decades since any politician actually worked for their electorate. Even Thomas Massie has his limits it seems and falls into line on occasion. Since politicians don’t work for us, there’s no one to hold anyone accountable to anything, hence no justice, only more corruption.

 

[candle86]

I'm just going to say this is nice as I can some of y'all need to go check yourself into the mental health ward, I understand Martin times are sometimes scary but if you believe such outlandish conspiracy theories you should really seek help your family would probably appreciate if you did.