Apple Removes Kremlin-Backed Messaging App Max From App Store
The app’s developers said it is temporarily unavailable as Apple and Google continue removing dozens of Russian apps from their stores.
- On Thursday, Apple removed the Russian state-backed Max messenger from its App Store, though the tech giant provided no comment on reasons for the removal.
- Russia has mandated that civil servants and state agencies use Max, a platform combining messaging with banking and government services, while throttling access to WhatsApp and Telegram.
- President Vladimir Putin touted the platform as a 'secure' alternative for 'technological sovereignty,' though the app lacks end-to-end encryption and stores user data exclusively on servers in Russia.
- While the app remains functional for existing users, new downloads are blocked and existing installations cannot receive updates, limiting Russians' ability to maintain the software.
- Apple and Google have removed dozens of Russian apps including those from sanctioned companies, triggering a cat-and-mouse game where firms launch apps disguised as alternative software to evade bans.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Russian Messenger Max Disappears From Apple App Store, Users Report Notification Issues
The Russian messaging platform Max has disappeared from Apple's App Store, prompting its developers to seek clarification from Apple while assuring users that the service continues to operate normally. According to VK's press service, the application will continue to function as usual on devices where it has already been installed. "The Max team has submitted a request for clarification to Apple and is working on a prompt solution to the issue,”…
Apple pulls Russian state-linked 'Max' app in fresh blow to Moscow's digital push
The removal of Moscow-backed messaging platform Max from Apple’s App Store intensifies scrutiny over Russia's push for a tightly controlled 'super-app' ecosystem amid growing tech fragmentation.
The appStore apps store removed the Max Massger (to be owned by VK). When trying to cross-reference the "national...
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