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

https://mins.news/en/item/63752

- The Guardian, 2026-09-18 06:00 UTC
- Tech
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/18/russian-super-app-max-spy-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.