this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2025
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A Russian state-backed messenger application called Max, a rival to WhatsApp that critics say could be used to track users, must be pre-installed on all mobile phones and tablets bought in the country starting next month, the Russian government said on Thursday.

The decision to promote Max comes as Moscow, locked in a standoff with the west over Ukraine, is seeking greater control over the internet. The Kremlin said in a statement that Max, which will be integrated with government services, would be on a list of mandatory pre-installed apps on all “gadgets”, including mobile phones and tablets, sold in Russia from 1 September.

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[–] NarrativeBear@lemmy.world 55 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The app is definitely fully encrypted and not reading your messages!

[–] oplkill@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

Sadly EU goes this way too

[–] NarrativeBear@lemmy.world 35 points 1 month ago (2 children)

In Russia app installs you.

[–] tarknassus@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

It definitely won’t lead to any surprise defenestrations.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 1 points 1 month ago

Look at this normie having a solid jk 🤡

[–] fireshell@kbin.earth 28 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] tyra@lemmy.ml 23 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Oh no! 😟 Why do they not just use state trojans and other hidden government spyware like the west? 🤔

[–] Vendetta9076@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Because they aren't smart enough to

[–] Samsy@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 month ago

They don't need to lie about it.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 1 points 1 month ago

They lack the necessary faith... They rely on weak sauce westoid propaganda 🐸

Got to ensure the right guy is data mining

[–] ComradePedro@lemmy.ml 22 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] goldkiddo@feddit.it 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Apparently you don't know about Meta?

[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

"Extra" spyware implies there was already spyware, so they're still correct

[–] Jason2357@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Just funnels the data to different people.

[–] leftthegroup@lemmings.world 1 points 1 month ago

Fuck Whatsapp. That shit should be shut down years ago. I wish everyone on any meets platform would from a mob, storm Zuck's house, kill him and move off social spyware.

I would immediately flip the switch without warning or hesitation if I could.

[–] xylogx@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

Does this mean HBO needs to change their name again?

[–] Sauvandu60@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I wonder how bad it is compared to whatsapp.

[–] TwilightKiddy@programming.dev 20 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (14 children)

Depends on how you rate Putin reading your messages against Zuckerberg reading your messages.

[–] TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

In one case, your data gets sold, but in the other you get thrown out a window.

[–] TwilightKiddy@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Oh, no, Russian government ends up leaking each and every piece of information it has for 50 rubles per person through sheer incompetence. So, you are both flying out the window and getting your data sold.

[–] TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 month ago

Oh yeah, so it’s a 2-for-1 deal.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 4 points 1 month ago

Lol. Never heard of a National Security Letter in the US?

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[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

The amount of steganographic cat memes is growing rapidly on the web.

[–] jwt@programming.dev 5 points 1 month ago

I don't think plausible deniability will give you much sway when you're dealing with the Russian government.

Gonna save this when i'll need it.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 month ago

Does it come with state mandated AI like WhatsApp?

[–] Aria@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 1 month ago

Does anyone have a complete list? The article says there's a package manager and video/TV streaming app and this chat app. What about money transfers and banking? Does this Max app do email?

[–] arcterus@piefed.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Lmao joining north korea in having an "encrypted" messenger pre-installed I see.

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[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

rival to WhatsApp that critics say could be used to track users

What other reason could they possibly have for requiring this?

[–] communism@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

Both can be true at the same time. Countries want to be able to spy on their citizens, and don't want their geopolitical rivals to be able to spy on their citizens.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 5 points 1 month ago

Russian companies order all new devices to be wiped and installed fresh.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

No word about it not be allowed to be frozen. You can freeze apps; still there but can't run. Don't even need root for that, if the app is not baked in the system.

[–] thatradomguy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I didn't read anything beyond post title but this reminds me of how hard WhatsApp was getting ad-time on everything because more than likely the US gov could use it to spy on people even though they've been caught using actual privacy app, Signal.

[–] goldkiddo@feddit.it 1 points 1 month ago
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