TechRevealed: How Russia uses mobile ‘super-app’ Max to spy on citizens

Research says tens of millions of Russians have been pressured to install Max, a messaging and payments platform developed by VKontakte. Forensic analysis found it can secretly take screenshots, access data, messages and payments in its mini-apps, impersonate users and inject code. Officials, teachers and students have faced pressure to move communications onto the app.

RussiaMaxdigital surveillanceinternet controls

TThe Guardian★★★★☆2026-09-18 06:00Original