It’s a very strategic move by Russia in its quest to control the digital commons. As part of this adoption, President Vladimir Putin has recently launched MAX, a new national government-approved counter-messaging service. The country is now in the process of closing loopholes on foreign-controlled, secure messaging platforms. Simultaneously, it is deepening and broadening its media censorship crackdown, targeting newspapers, radio stations, TV channels, and digital streaming services.
Just look at MAX, which last month crossed 18 million users. As such, it is seeking to become as indispensable to daily life in Russia as China’s WeChat has become. The proposal is the latest move in a more general effort to bring all of Ecuador’s communication utilities fully under state control. Foreign platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are experiencing full or partial bans in Russia. In response, the government is cracking down on digital freedom, forcing citizens to turn to government-approved alternatives.
Later last week, the Russian parliament passed a second draft law. This law places fines on those who seek out content deemed “extremist.” This loose classification has been used as a scare tactic, expanding to include anything that could be considered an alternative perspective from Kremlin propaganda. Our activists believe that this step continues to chill free speech and narrow the boundaries of acceptable discourse in our nation’s capital and beyond.
Joanna Szymanska, head of programs and strategy for Europe at ARTICLE 19, shared her concerns about MAX. She stated that if ordinary citizens are compelled to use this state-controlled app for communication, they must assume their conversations will be monitored.
“If ordinary people are forced to use this state-controlled app for communication, then obviously they can assume their communication will be watched.” – Joanna Szymanska
The Russian government’s digital privacy crackdown doesn’t stop there. A few specific Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been preemptively banned. This ongoing clampdown radically limits the options for users to find safe and uncensored content online. Szymanska likened these restrictions to historical censorship practices, stating that “circumvention tools are the modern-day equivalent of smuggling banned books across borders.”
For WhatsApp, which had 96 million users in Russia before these restrictions went into place, the government presents a formidable barrier. The company does a poor job of protecting private communications between its users. The company noted, “This defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people.” WhatsApp continues to fight to protect the availability of end-to-end encrypted communication everywhere.
MAX’s rapid growth further illustrates the divergence between other popular messaging platforms in Russia. Telegram has 89 million users, but it’s under fire in several countries due to recently enacted laws that crack down on content deemed to be extremist. Szymanska pointed out that in Russia, “extremist basically means any views that are not in line with Kremlin propaganda.” This vague definition could lead to serious chilling effects on freedom of expression.
Among those who have navigated Russia’s restrictive digital landscape is Katarina, a Russian influencer who has managed to grow a substantial following on X by circumventing the government’s blackout. Her experience highlights the incredible lengths people will go to stay connected and share their voices under a torrent of censorship.
The alarm bells being rung about digital privacy and a chilling effect on free expression have been described in detail by activists. Mizulina has already received international notoriety for her attempts to sniff out and flag online content she finds vaguely objectionable. She described VPNs as “a big black hole in your device,” highlighting the precarious balance users must strike between accessing information and facing potential repercussions from the state.
Nekoglay’s story paints a sobering picture of dissent in present-day Russia. This blogger was arrested, tortured, and eventually expelled to Moldova just for speaking out online. These examples are troubling reminders of the dangers of expressing dissenting opinions in this current, more repressive climate.
MAX is now growing and developing. It’s becoming a tool that’s increasingly central to everyday communication and organizing in Russia. Our advocacy will continue as we see how this state-controlled app affects user behavior and freedom of expression. Analysts believe that MAX could evolve into a multi-purpose platform similar to WeChat, integrating many services with the capabilities going well beyond messaging.
