Russia is aggressively promoting its own app Max, a social network without encryption, while simultaneously blocking WhatsApp and Telegram - the two most popular apps among users in the country.

"There is absolutely no WhatsApp traffic. It practically does not exist. WhatsApp is dead, Telegram is dying. Meanwhile, Max traffic is rapidly growing," said Rostelecom director Mikhail Oseyevsky at the Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists.

The introduction of Max raises concerns among critics and digital rights organizations, who warn that Moscow could use the app for citizen surveillance. "All data passing through this app can be considered accessible to its owner, in this case the Russian state," said cybersecurity expert Baptiste Robert.

The app was launched in 2025 by Russian tech giant VK and is often compared to China's WeChat as it combines a social network and communication platform with access to government services, digital identification and banking.

Although not officially mandatory, the authorities clearly signal that life without Max will become increasingly difficult. President Vladimir Putin promotes it as a more secure platform that fulfills the country's "technological sovereignty" requirements.