The European Union has taken decisive action against Russian tech giant VK, imposing sanctions due to its involvement in the development of the Kremlin-backed messaging app, Max. Critics have raised concerns that this application serves as a tool for mass surveillance and censorship. The sanctions, which also extend to VK’s subsidiary, Communication Platform LLC, are part of a broader strategy by the EU and the UK to target individuals and entities linked to cyberattacks attributed to Russia across Europe.
Details of the Sanctions
According to the EU’s official sanctions designation, the development of the Max application was overseen by the Federal Security Service (FSB). Expert analyses have indicated that Max, which is pre-installed on all devices sold in Russia, possesses extensive surveillance capabilities that allow it to monitor communications effectively.
The EU’s statement highlighted that the Russian state’s promotion of the Max app has coincided with a crackdown on independent applications, including Telegram and WhatsApp. This has led to the conclusion that VK plays a role in providing technical support for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Russia.
In response to the sanctions, VK has expressed confidence that its platforms, which include popular social media sites VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, as well as the Max app, will remain unaffected. The company reassured users that “applications and services are available to users as normal,” as reported to state news agencies.
Notably, last month, Apple took the step of removing VK platforms and the Max app from its App Store, citing compliance with sanctions, despite VK not being under sanctions at that time.
Broader Sanctions Landscape
On the same day, the EU and the UK announced additional sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in Russian cyber and hybrid operations. The UK government specifically targeted 24 individuals and entities, including senior leaders of Russia’s GRU military intelligence, who are alleged to have collaborated with cybercriminals to create chaos across Europe.
Brussels also sanctioned nine individuals and four entities linked to the FSB’s Center 16, accusing them of working with cyber threat groups to infiltrate government networks and disrupt critical infrastructure in Ukraine and at least nine EU countries. The EU is poised to introduce its 21st package of sanctions against Russia in the coming week.
