EU sanctions Russian surveillance firms behind state-controlled tracking app
The MAX app was presented as a state-controlled alternative to platforms such as WhatsApp.
MAX app logo is on a mobile phone screen in front of a Russian flag. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu/Getty.
- EU sanctioned firms behind surveillance app on all Russian phones – VKontakte and its subsidiary created MAX, a state messaging app pre-installed on every smartphone sold in Russia.
- MAX replaced banned Western platforms – Russia promoted MAX after blocking WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X since the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
- MAX, supervised by Russia's FSB security agency, tracks users to identify and repress critics of the Ukraine war.
- EU also targeted companies monitoring communications, Russian military intelligence officers, cybercriminals, and FSB-controlled hacker groups destabilizing Europe.
The European Union (EU) on Monday sanctioned Russians and entities over cybercrime and human rights violations. The move targets popular social media app VKontakte for its role in developing surveillance software that’s pre-installed on all Russian smartphones, often cited as a need to repress critics of Russia.
A new entry to the list is VKontakte and its daughter company, Communication Platform LLC. The entities were added for their role in developing and managing MAX for Russian smartphones.
MAX is Russia's state-owned messaging app that has been promoted in the country as an alternative to other platforms such as WhatsApp.
The app is now pre-installed on all mobile devices sold in Russia.
Cybernews has previously reported that MAX contains extensive tracking capabilities for surveillance. It’s been used by Russian troops taking part in the war against Ukraine, but after the discovery of a few security flaws, the troops were ordered to reinstall Telegram.
EU countries claim that MAX is used for the repression of critics of Russia's war against Ukraine and of people who posted other content banned by authorities.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has banned Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and X. This year, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communication regulator, has announced its intent to block nearly all VPN servers operating within the country by 2030.
MAX is under the supervision of the FSB security agency.
The EU also imposed “restrictive measures” on Citadel, VAS Experts, and Norsi-Trans – companies that manufacture, develop, and sell hardware and software related to a surveillance system that monitors phone calls, emails, text messages, and social networks.
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The EU said this network targets journalists, opposition figures, minority groups, and ordinary citizens.
The EU also imposed sanctions on officers from Russia's military intelligence service GRU, cybercriminals, and companies that it said were active in Russia's efforts to destabilize Europe.
It also accused the FSB of controlling "a variety of cyber threat groups."
