State Messenger Max: Now Public Services Will Come Knocking Themselves

In Russia, the concept of “state secret” is taking on ever new forms: now it will be stored on your smartphone in the shape of a new national messenger. The State Duma has solemnly (perhaps with an electronic autograph) approved in the second and third readings amendments that will allow Russians to communicate with the government via a single app. The service has already been dubbed the “Russian WeChat,” instantly adding a light Asian flair to domestic innovation.

Maksut Shadayev from the Ministry of Digital Development assures: the new messenger Max from VK is not only “completely Russian,” but also so technologically advanced that foreign colleagues are nervously peeking at the code through VPNs. The app promises to be everything at once: here you’ll find public services, chats with officials, and a digital signature you can wave at a cashier instead of a passport. In addition, Max is registered in schools, universities, and, most likely, in every parent chat in the country.

It’s expected that Russians will be able to check into hotels and buy alcohol just by showing their phone screen—as long as it’s not instead of their face. And if you suddenly forget who you were before digitalization, Max will remind you of your entire biography, including your school grades and eligibility for benefits.

VK is responsible for developing the app—a company inspired by WeChat, but with a Russian twist: censorship, surveillance, government contracts, and, of course, the special charm of domestic interfaces. Still, officials assure: privacy will be top-notch—well, within the state-established standards of privacy.

Skeptics are already wondering: will Telegram and WhatsApp now be banned so as not to interfere with digital patriotism? No one is admitting it yet, but in the era of import substitution, anything is possible. In any case, the state digital messenger isn’t about data leaks, but about confident data export to its intended destination.

So get ready: soon public services will be not just “in one window,” but right in your pocket, and you’ll be able to discuss all the important things with the state in a chat. Just don’t try to send an avocado emoji—who knows, it might be on the banned list.