WhatsApp Out, MAX In: What is Russia’s new indigenous app? In which government work will be done with chatting, but there is a big threat to privacy.

News India Live, Digital Desk: The technological war between Russia and Meta has now reached a turning point. Russia had already limited the call services of WhatsApp and is now preparing to block it completely. The MAX app introduced as its alternative has been built on the lines of China’s ‘WeChat’, which provides many facilities on a single platform.1. Key Features of MAX AppMax is designed not just as a messaging app, but as a ‘super app’: Chatting and calling: It features text messaging, group chat, and high-quality audio-video calls.Govt Services: This app is connected to Russia’s government portal (Gosuslugi). Through this, users can pay taxes, store government documents and complete official work. Digital Payment: An in-built payment gateway has been provided within the app for money transfer and bill payment. Mandatory pre-installation: The Russian government has made a rule that it will be mandatory to have the Max app pre-installed in all new smartphones and tablets sold in the country. 2. The biggest drawback: Privacy and Security (The Major Drawback) The biggest drawback of the Max app is regarding its privacy policy and encryption, which remains a matter of concern in the tech world: Lack of End-to-End Encryption: Unlike WhatsApp, the Max app lacks ‘end-to-end encryption’. This means your messages aren’t completely private. Government Surveillance: The app’s policy clearly states that security agencies (like the FSB) can access user data if needed. Critics consider it a ‘digital cage’ of the government. Data sharing: WhatsApp had refused to give data to Russian authorities, while the Max app is completely developed by a government-controlled company (VK Co.), which raises questions about data privacy.3. Future of WhatsApp in Russia: WhatsApp has about 100 million users in Russia. A WhatsApp spokesperson has said that Russia is deliberately blocking secure apps to bring people to a platform where their every move can be monitored.