Russia is developing a so-called “super-app” named Max, reportedly in a bid to replace the majority of foreign-developed mobile apps and to further tighten control over the country’s digital ecosystem.
The app, which currently works as a messenger application, was developed by the same company that develops the Russian social media platform Vkontakte (VK), which is owned by Russia’s state conglomerate Gazprom, Bloomberg noted.
The app lacks end-to-end encryption, meaning the Kremlin is able to access all communications made via the app.
But experts cited by Bloomberg suggested that it might just be the first step towards a future “super app” that will encompass everything, similar to China’s WeChat.
As Russia pushes homegrown alternatives – including attempts to build its own version of Wikipedia – Sarkis Darbinyan, founder of digital rights advocacy group Roskomsvoboda, told Bloomberg that the app may initially serve as a convenient hub for accessing government services, but could gradually edge out foreign apps entirely.
“In the next few years, Russians may download Max, but they won’t use it as their main messenger,” Darbinyan said.
“It will start as a way to get convenient points of access to government services.”
But Max is merely a milestone in the Kremlin’s efforts to further its grip on the digital space.
According to The Independent, Russian law now requires all devices sold in the country since September to come pre-installed with the app. The mandate, along with recent admissions by Russian propagandists that the Kremlin fears growing domestic unrest over the war in Ukraine, signals Moscow’s intent to further tighten its grip on the digital space.
In recent years, Moscow has banned foreign social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram, imposed astronomical fines on Google, and severely limited YouTube’s download speeds to deter local access.
On July 22, Russia’s State Duma passed a law penalizing the use of VPNs – a move that even drew criticism from some typically loyal lawmakers.
VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) mask users’ internet activity and location by routing connections through secure servers, often enabling people to bypass government censorship and access the banned apps.
The growing censorship and the scenario described by Bloomberg closely mirror the heavily restricted internet access seen in North Korea.
Contrary to popular belief, North Korea has internet and smartphones, albeit highly restricted and likely less accessible than in most developing countries.
North Korea has a closed digital ecosystem similar to that envisioned for Russia, where most hardware is made in China, but software is strictly homegrown intended to weed out potential loopholes and undesired information access.
North Koreans are required to physically visit a shop and pay a fee before downloading a mobile app, according to a 2024 Radio Free Asia report.
As Moscow and Pyongyang hail historic close ties, the former is marching toward the kind of isolationist internet model long practiced by North Korea – where access is controlled, dissent is silenced, and the state dictates the narrative.