THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Apple removes Russian state messaging app Max from App Store Business Apple removes Russian state messaging app Max from App Store Kremlin slams Cupertino’s 'unfriendly' move Apple AirPods lead to recovery of unreleased Beyoncé tracks after theft Foxconn hit by ransomware attack; hackers claim stolen Apple and Nvidia data App Store icon. - 123RF. Most read 1 The end of an era: LinkedIn Co-Founder Reid Hoffman says goodbye 2 Santa Bárbara delivers first of 84 Hunter combat vehicles to Latvia 3 Meta AI data breach impacts over 20,000 Instagram users 4 Google announces fresh layoffs, deepening tech industry turmoil 5 Apple removes Russian state messaging app Max from App Store Alberto Payo Technology Journalist Published on 09 June 2026 at 07:20 Apple has made the decision to remove the messaging application Max (Макс) from its official store . It is a state-owned tool very popular in Putin's country that has been promoted by the government as an alternative to foreign messaging platforms like WhatsApp (owned by Meta) and Telegram (of Russian origin but currently based in Dubai). Since September, smartphone and tablet manufacturers a re required to pre-install it on al…

Apple Removes Russian Messaging App - The African Brands Share Apple has removed the Russian state-backed messaging application Max from its App Store, creating a fresh setback for Moscow’s efforts to expand adoption of the platform as part of its broader digital sovereignty agenda. The removal was confirmed by the developers of the messaging service, who disclosed that the application was no longer available for download through Apple’s App Store. The company stated that the application disappeared from the platform and was temporarily inaccessible to new users seeking to install it on Apple devices. The reasons behind the removal were not immediately disclosed, while Apple had not issued an official statement regarding the development at the time of reporting. The decision comes amid ongoing efforts by Russian authorities to promote Max as a national digital platform designed to reduce dependence on foreign technology services and strengthen local digital infrastructure. Over recent months, Russian authorities have intensified measures aimed at encouraging wider adoption of the application among citizens, businesses and public institutions. The platform has been positioned as a …

Apple removes Russia's biggest social network from App Store Russia's largest social media platform, VK, is a major channel for information distribution and state-backed narratives.

Russian citizens told "switch to Android" after Apple blocks key ... Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav According to Apple’s 2025 App Store Transparency Report , Russia is the runaway world leader in one category: Demanding that Apple remove apps from its App Store. In 2025, Russia asked that Apple remove 1,213 apps—many of these VPN apps designed to thwart the country’s draconian Internet censorship. (Vietnam was number two, requesting that 335 apps be blocked.) Russia is essentially trying to build a closed, spy-friendly, domestic version of the Internet. While the Russian government loves demanding app bans from Apple, it only wants bad, degenerate apps banned. It does not want good, strong Russian apps banned, such as VKontakte (a Russian version of Facebook) or the Max messaging app (state-mandated communications software so creepy that one exile publication described it with the insanely long headline, “You already know Russia’s Max messenger spies on users. You probably don’t know just how many surveillance tools it hides, including even a neural network for eav…

The Russian government has demanded Apple and Google ... - Vox Technology The Russian government has demanded Apple and Google remove LinkedIn from their app stores LinkedIn is “disappointed.” by Kurt Wagner Jan 7, 2017, 5:30 PM UTC Share Gift Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images Apple and Google have pulled the LinkedIn mobile app from their local app stores in Russia following the government’s demands to do so. The move comes after Russia blocked LinkedIn’s website as punishment because the professional network does not “store data on Russian citizens within the nation’s borders,” according to the New York Times . That is against Russian law. A LinkedIn spokesperson confirmed the apps have been removed. ”We are disappointed with [Russia’s telecom regulatory agency] Roskomnadzor’s action to block LinkedIn,” a LinkedIn spokesperson said in a statement sent to Recode . “It denies access to our members in Russia and the companies that use LinkedIn to grow their businesses.” Both Apple and Google did not reply to email requests for comment, but Apple confirmed Russia’s demands to the Times. This move is not entirely surprising — Russian regulators have been going after LinkedIn for violating…

Apple removes US-funded news app from its Russia store Share this: Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Share on X (Opens in new window) X Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Berlin, October 24, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Apple Inc. to reinstate two mobile apps belonging to the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which were removed from the Russian App Store at the request of state media regulator Roskomnadzor. “Apple’s actions restrict access to vital information and embolden authoritarian regimes seeking to silence independent media in countries like Russia,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York. “We call on Apple to uphold press freedom and ensure that people have access to objective and unbiased news.” Apple informed RFE/RL in a letter that it had removed the app of Current Time TV, a Russian-language digital network operated by RFE/RL, because it contained content deemed illegal in Russia and included …

Russian citizens told "switch to Android" after Apple blocks key Russian apps Russian government lashes out at Apple's "bizarre" decisions.

Apple Removes Kremlin-Backed Messaging App Max From App Store June 5, 2026 Vasily Kuzmichenok / Moskva News Agency Apple has removed Russia’s state-backed messaging app Max from its App Store and cut off push notifications for calls and messages to iPhone users. Launched in spring 2025 as a domestic alternative to WhatsApp and Telegram, Max has been heavily promoted by authorities as a secure platform and is legally mandated to come pre-installed on all smartphones and computers sold in Russia. “Max confirms that its app is currently unavailable in the App Store,” the company’s press service told the state-run news agency TASS on Wednesday. The platform later said that the removal means iPhone users will no longer receive alerts for new messages and calls. “We recommend opening the app manually from time to time so you don’t miss any important messages,” Max advised its users, adding that its internal features otherwise remain fully functional. The company said it has reached out to Apple to resolve the issue and advised users to download the messenger from alternative app stores or directly from Max’s official website. Apple later told BBC News Russian that it deleted Max from it…

Russia threatens Apple with $52 million fine over alleged app ... - 9to5Mac Apple is once again being required to preinstall Russian apps on devices sold in the country, or face a fine of up to $52 million. Here are the details. As reported byReuters, Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service is accusing Apple of “discriminatory ⁠practices against Russian ​search engines and ​software,” and threatening a 4 billion roubles ($51.6 million) fine unless the company “fails to remedy ​the violations ​by ⁠July 15.” The news comes nearly a year after the Russian governmentintroduced a rulerequiring all phones and tablets sold in the country to ship with MAX, its state-backed messaging app, preinstalled. Initially, Apple hadn’t been affected, as it had halted official product sales in Russia in March 2022, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But now, Russia is threatening to slap Apple with a multimillion-dollar fine unless it complies with the requirement, thoughReuters’ report does not specify how the company would be expected to implement it. The move comes just days after Russiademanded an explanation from Applefor removing several apps developed by state-controlled tech company VK f…

Russian citizens told "switch to Android" after Apple blocks key ... Key Points: In 2025, Russia led global requests for app removals from Apple's App Store, demanding the removal of 1,213 apps, many of which were VPNs aimed at bypassing Russia's strict internet censorship. Apple recently blocked key Russian apps VKontakte and Max, disabling their availability and push notifications on iPhones in Russia, prompting official complaints from both the Kremlin and VK Group. VK Group stated that Apple removed their apps without warning or legal justification, emphasizing that their Android versions remain fully functional across multiple platforms. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized Apple's actions as "bizarre" and questioned Apple's reliability as a service provider, while advising Russian users to switch to Android or domestic services as alternatives. Despite the rhetoric, the Kremlin acknowledges limited options in the face of Apple's decisions, focusing instead on encouraging users to adopt other platforms to maintain access to favored services. Full Story

Russia warns Apple over default search engines and missing ... - Meduza Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) issued a warning to Apple because iPhones and iPads come with a foreign search engine installed by default. Users must manually change their settings to use Russian search engines, the agency said. “This creates discriminatory conditions for domestic developers and infringes on the rights and interests of consumers,” FAS said. Another reason for the warning was Apple’s failure to comply with requirements to preinstall Russian software on devices running iOS. That software includes the Max messenger and Russia’s domestic app store (RuStore), among others. FAS gave Apple until July 15 to correct the violations. If the company ignores the warning, it faces a fine of up to 4 billion rubles (about $52 million) for violating antitrust law, the agency said. Apple removed a group of apps tied to Russia’s VK holding company from the App Store in June, a move Russian officials called politically motivated. The apps removed included the Max messenger, VKontakte’s flagship app, Mail.ru’s email apps, the Odnoklassniki social network, and other VK products. Applesaidthat Max …

Russia warns Apple of $52 million fine over alleged bias against local ... Audio By Carbonatix MOSCOW, July 1 (Reuters) – Russia’s anti-monopoly watchdog has issued a warning to iPhone maker Apple, urging the company to address what it described as discriminatory practices against Russian search engines and software. The Federal Antimonopoly Service said Apple must ensure Russian software, including search engines and messenger Max, is pre-installed on its devices. If the company fails to remedy the violations by July 15, it could face a fine of up to 4 billion roubles ($51.6 million). ($1 = 77.4955 roubles) (Reporting by Anastasia Lyrchikova;Writing by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

Russia warns Apple over default search engines and missing Russian apps, giving company until July 15 to comply or face a fine of up to $52 million <p>Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) issued a warning to Apple because iPhones and iPads come with a foreign search engine installed by default.<p>

Russia warns Apple: Comply with local software rules or face $52 ... In a fresh escalation of tech sovereignty disputes, Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has issued a formal warning to Apple, demanding that the company stop what it calls discriminatory practices against Russian-developed software. The regulator is giving Apple until July 15 to ensure popular local apps — including Russian search engines and the messenger app “Max” — are properly pre-installed and promoted on iOS devices sold in the country. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to 4 billion roubles, equivalent to roughly $51.6 million (based on current exchange rates). Why Russia Is Targeting Apple This isn’t the first time Moscow has clashed with Big Tech over digital dominance. Russia’s push reflects a broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign platforms and boost domestic alternatives. The FAS accuses Apple of favoring its own ecosystem and international apps while sidelining Russian competitors in areas like search, browsing, and messaging. By mandating pre-installation, regulators aim to give local software equal visibility on devices — a move similar to requirements imposed on Android…