Effective September 1, Russia will require all mobile phones and tablets sold within its borders to pre-install Max, an instant messaging application supported by the government. Max is designed to integrate government and business services, transforming into a versatile platform for information exchange. This measure aligns with Russia's increasing scrutiny and control over foreign messaging tools. A week prior, Russia imposed restrictions on certain functions of WhatsApp and Telegram due to the operators' refusal to share user data. The introduction of Max is viewed as a strategic step towards establishing digital sovereignty within the country.