Russian Internet under Siege: WhatsApp Restrictions and Rise of a New Super-App

Tue Oct 21 2025 13:35:23 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As WhatsApp faces crippling restrictions in Russia, the government pushes a new state-controlled 'super-app' called Max, changing how Russians connect online.

In a new wave of internet censorship, millions of Russians are dealing with restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram imposed by the government. Concurrently, a new 'super-app' named Max, designed to consolidate various services under state control, is being promoted, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance. With mobile internet outages on the rise, many are left without crucial online services, leading to a digital detox across the nation.

Marina, a 45-year-old freelance copywriter, has relied on WhatsApp for her work and personal life for years. But one day last month that abruptly changed when a call to a colleague did not go through properly. They tried Telegram - another messaging app popular in Russia - but that did not work either. She was one of millions of Russians facing new restrictions imposed in mid-August by Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor, on calls made through the two platforms - the country's most popular apps.

The timing coincides with the rollout of a new national messenger app known as Max and created by a Russian firm closely controlled by the Kremlin. Monthly user numbers of WhatsApp and Telegram are estimated to be 97 and 90 million respectively — in a country of 143 million people. From parents' chats to tenants' groups, much of daily life runs through them. WhatsApp - whose owner, Meta, is designated an extremist organisation in Russia - is especially popular with older people because of how easy it is to register and use.

In some parts of Russia, particularly in remote areas, WhatsApp is used for coordinating local matters, ordering taxis, and sharing news. Both apps offer end-to-end encryption, meaning messages cannot be read by anyone but the sender and recipient.

However, Russian officials argue that the apps have refused to store Russian users' data domestically. The crackdown on these messaging platforms is viewed as a method for the government to monitor personal communications. Marina expresses concerns about the government’s intention: The authorities don't want us, ordinary people, to maintain any kind of relationships, connections, friendships or mutual support. They want everyone to sit quietly in their own corner.

The new Max app, designed to act as a digital Swiss army knife by consolidating various functions including government services and banking, is being heavily pushed by pop culture influencers and required on all devices sold in Russia as of September 1st. Its privacy policies raise concerns regarding potential government access to user data.

In addition to restrictions on messaging apps, many Russians are experiencing mobile internet blackouts that hamper daily communication. Over the summer, entire regions lost access to mobile networks, justified by officials as necessary to protect infrastructure from potential drone strikes. Critics argue that such measures are ineffective and serve to isolate and control the population.

As state control tightens, many Russians worry about losing their freedom to communicate. Some are adapting by using alternative apps or resorting to less secure methods of communication.