Russian President Vladimir Putin is ramping up efforts to control the country’s internet by cracking down on functionality and access to western apps amid a buildout of a state-approved messaging service that’s expected to roll out next month, The New York Times reported Sunday.
The service, called MAX, will be preinstalled on all smart phones sold in Russia as speculation mounts on Putin’s plan to potentially block Russians from using WhatsApp and Telegram, according to the Times.
The idea is to filter Russians into a state-controlled online environment that’s easily monitored and censored, according to the report.
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