Russia's Crackdown: WhatsApp Restrictions and the Rise of the 'Max' Super-App

Tue Oct 21 2025 05:28:20 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Russian authorities tighten internet controls, WhatsApp and Telegram face severe restrictions while the 'Max' app, a state-controlled super-app, emerges as the new platform for communication and services.

Russians are grappling with new restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram amid a surge in government internet control. WhatsApp, widely used for both personal and professional communication, is facing calls restrictions, paralleling the push for the state-supported 'Max' app, which promises to integrate multiple services at the cost of user privacy. This transition comes as internet blackouts become more frequent across the nation, raising concerns about censorship and surveillance.

Marina, a 45-year-old freelance copywriter, has relied on WhatsApp for her work and personal life for years. But one day last month that abruptly changed when a call to a colleague did not go through properly. They tried Telegram - another messaging app popular in Russia - but that did not work either.

She was one of millions of Russians facing new restrictions imposed in mid-August by Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor, on calls made through the two platforms - the country's most popular apps. The timing coincides with the rollout of a new national messenger app known as Max and created by a Russian firm closely controlled by the Kremlin.

Monthly user numbers of WhatsApp and Telegram are estimated to be 97 and 90 million respectively — in a country of 143 million people. From parents' chats to tenants' groups, much of daily life runs through them. WhatsApp - whose owner, Meta, is designated an extremist organisation in Russia - is especially popular with older people because of how easy it is to register and use.

In some parts of Russia, particularly in remote and sparsely connected places in the Far East, WhatsApp is much more than chatting with friends and colleagues. Mobile browsing is sometimes painfully slow, so people use the app to coordinate local matters, order taxis, buy alcohol, and share news.

Both apps offer end-to-end encryption, meaning that no third party, not even those who own them, can read messages or listen to calls. Despite allegations from officials about scams occurring on these platforms, the majority of scams still take place over traditional mobile networks.

Now, the new Max app is being aggressively promoted by pop stars and bloggers, and as of September 1, all devices sold in Russia must have Max pre-installed. This new app promises a plethora of features, including government digital services and banking, mirroring China's comprehensive WeChat system.

Russians are becoming accustomed to a digital world constrained by state oversight, as entire cities encounter regular internet blackouts. Justifications for these shutdowns range from security against attacks to a supposed digital detox initiative.

As control increases, many worry that popular messaging services are being eradicated in favor of a government-monitored platform, raising serious questions about the future of privacy and free communication in Russia.