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 2 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] oplkill@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago

Sadly EU goes this way too

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

In Russia app installs you.

[–] tarknassus@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago

It definitely won’t lead to any surprise defenestrations.

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

Because they aren't smart enough to

[–] Samsy@lemmy.ml 12 points 2 months ago

They don't need to lie about it.

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

Apparently you don't know about Meta?

[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Jason2357@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Just funnels the data to different people.

[–] leftthegroup@lemmings.world 1 points 2 months 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 2 months ago

Does this mean HBO needs to change their name again?

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

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

[–] jwt@programming.dev 5 points 2 months 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.

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

I wonder how bad it is compared to whatsapp.

[–] TwilightKiddy@programming.dev 20 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (14 children)

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

[–] TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip 7 points 2 months 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 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months 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 2 months ago

Oh yeah, so it’s a 2-for-1 deal.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 4 points 2 months ago

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

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[–] Aria@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 2 months 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?

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 months ago

Does it come with state mandated AI like WhatsApp?

[–] arcterus@piefed.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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

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[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 5 points 2 months ago

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

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 months 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 2 months 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.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago