Russia Targets WhatsApp and Pushes New 'Super-App' as Internet Blackouts Grow

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Messengers Telegram and WhatsApp should continue to work in Russia so that the "national" Massger Max would have competition, a view that was expressed by Russian President Dmitry Peskov's spokesperson in an interview with TASS at the Eastern Economic Forum.

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Russia is increasingly taking action against foreign messenger services while at the same time promoting the spread of the state service Max. Since 1 September, the Chinese-inspired WeChat-inspired "Super-App" must be pre-installed on all new smartphones and tablets. On Friday, Moscow stated that Max will also be usable in Internet-blocks – in contrast to WhatsApp or Telegram. Critics are alarmed.

radiomoldova.md

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The launch of the government messenger Max will not become an effective instrument against fraud. The statement was made by the spokesman of Russian President Dmitri Peskov, who mentioned that the perpetrators will use Max as well as other platforms, reports The Moscow Times.

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In August, Roskomnadzor restricted the work of WhatsApp and Telegram, which are used together by nearly 190 million Russians every month. Against this background, the Kremlin launched a new Masser Max, who had been forcibly installed on all devices in the country since 1 September. An app controlled by Gazprom and Oligarch Yuri Kowalchuk is already linked to increased surveillance of citizens. A copy of Marina from Tula told the BBC that she had…

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Telegram and WhatsApp Internet services should continue to work in Russia so that the new MAX minister would have competition, as TASS announced by Russian President Dmitry Peskov's press secretary.