On July 13, 2026, the European Union imposed sanctions on VK Company for developing MAX, a messaging app mandatorily preinstalled on all smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs sold in Russia since September 2025. MAX's terms of service explicitly permit sharing user data with Russian government institutions, and human rights lawyers say law enforcement has access to VK-administered platforms including VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, and MAX. The EU action, part of a package that also sanctioned developers of the FSB's SORM surveillance system, followed a Russian government crackdown on independent apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp. MAX had over 45 million registered accounts and 18 million daily active users as of late 2025.
company
VK Company Limited
Russia's largest internet and social media conglomerate (formerly Mail.ru Group), operating VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Mail.ru, and MAX -- the Russian government-mandated messaging app preinstalled on devices sold in Russia. Majority state-linked since a 2021 ownership restructuring involving Gazprombank and other state-affiliated entities.