In a significant move, Apple has removed the Russian state-backed messaging application, Max, from its App Store, effectively halting new downloads of the Kremlin-supported platform. This decision was reported by The Moscow Times on June 3, with VK, the developer behind Max, confirming the action on Wednesday evening.
“MAX confirms that the messenger application is currently unavailable in the App Store,” the company stated, adding that users who had previously installed the app would still be able to use it without interruption. In light of this development, VK has sought clarification from Apple and is actively working towards a resolution. They have also advised users to consider downloading the app from alternative app stores or directly from the official Max website.
Background on the Controversy
The controversy surrounding Max is not new. In late April, the hosting provider Cloudflare had flagged the Max domain as spyware, a designation that was later lifted on May 1. This action was based on a series of checks that indicated potential security flaws within the application, as reported by the technology outlet Tech Talk. Max’s press service attributed this classification to a misinterpretation of request headers sent to standard web analytics services.
The removal of Max follows a similar fate for another VK-associated service, Telega, which Apple had also pulled from its App Store in early April after Cloudflare identified two of its domains as spyware. Although the labeling was subsequently rescinded following a complaint from the developers, the incident highlights the increasing tensions between Apple and Russia’s state-aligned tech sector.
Concerns regarding Max’s functionality as a surveillance tool have been raised prior to its removal from the App Store. Independent technical analyses have uncovered numerous hidden features within the application, including capabilities for remote microphone recording, harvesting contact lists, detecting VPN usage, and even the silent deletion of messages from users’ devices. Since September 2025, Max has been preinstalled on every new smartphone sold in Russia, marketed as a sovereign alternative after the blocking of WhatsApp in February 2026.
