According to @ai_darpa, Russia has mandated the installation of its state-developed MAX messaging app on all new smartphones, effectively replacing WhatsApp in the country. The app lacks end-to-end encryption and grants the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) full access to user data, as reported by The Moscow Times (2025/08/28). In occupied regions of Ukraine, possession of the MAX app is enforced, with individuals without it subject to searches at checkpoints. This move signals a significant trend in AI-powered surveillance, raising serious concerns for technology companies, messaging platforms, and international businesses operating in Russia and occupied territories. The deployment of MAX highlights the increasing use of AI for mass data collection and monitoring, presenting both compliance risks and opportunities for companies specializing in privacy tech, cybersecurity, and secure communication solutions (source: The Moscow Times).