Over a thousand fraudulent phone numbers were barred from Messenger during a single month
The Max national messenger, developed by VK’s subsidiary "Communication Platform" LLC, is in its final stages of beta-testing and is scheduled for an official launch on September 1, 2025. This marks a significant milestone as Max will be pre-installed on all smartphones and tablets sold in Russia, according to recent announcements.
The integration with Gosuslugi, a government portal offering electronic services, is expected to take place this fall, coinciding with or shortly after the official launch. Once integrated, users will be able to pay duties and fines, make medical appointments, sign electronic documents, and confirm identity digitally without presenting a passport. The FSB has already approved Max’s conditions to connect with public services, indicating progress towards official integration with government platforms like Gosuslugi.
Max offers a range of features, including a messenger, audio and video calls, money transfers for clients of Alfa-Bank and VTB, AI assistant GigaChat 2.0, Ozon Travel booking service, group calls, and channel testing. The beta version of the Max service became available in March of this year, and since then, the Security Center Max experts have been monitoring user requests around the clock using automated technological platforms.
In a recent development, Roskomnadzor restricted voice calls in Telegram and WhatsApp on August 13. The owners of these services have allegedly refused to provide information related to fraud and terrorism, according to the Ministry of Digital Transformation. The ministry emphasized that access to calls in these services will be restored if they comply with Russian laws.
The Security Center Max takes a firm stance against fraud, permanently blocking accounts that attempt fraud on the platform. In July, the Security Center Max blocked over 10,000 phone numbers of scammers and removed over 32,000 malicious and spam documents. Scammers are reportedly calling Russians in foreign messengers due to the fight against criminals by the state and operators.
Anton Goryachkin, deputy head of the State Duma committee on information policy, reported that the integration of Max and Gosuslugi will be completed in a few weeks. However, no new information about the permanent blocking of accounts or documents was provided in this paragraph.
In conclusion, the integration with Gosuslugi is forthcoming this fall 2025, coinciding with or shortly after the full launch of Max, which is officially expected on September 1, 2025, with device manufacturers required to include it on new devices sold in Russia. The Max national messenger aims to be a "superapp" like WeChat, incorporating messaging, payments, digital ID, and electronic government services through Gosuslugi.
- The upcoming integration of Max with Gosuslugi signifies a leap in cybersecurity within technology, as digital ID verification and government services will be available through the Max national messenger.
- As Max positions itself as a "superapp" like WeChat, it's essential to ensure the technology behind it meets the highest standards of cybersecurity, protecting users' information during their interactions with public services.
