Even the AI assistant inside Russia’s state-backed Max messenger tells users not to trust the app

Alisa, the AI assistant integrated within Russia's state-backed Max messenger, advises users against trusting the app, suggesting alternatives like Telegram, Signal, or WhatsApp. The AI, created by Yandex, cites several security concerns, such as the lack of end-to-end encryption and the routing of user data to VK-owned servers.

Furthermore, Alisa highlights that Max gathers various data, including IP addresses, activity times, contacts, device specifics, and metadata, which may be shared with third parties, including governmental entities. To enhance privacy, Alisa recommends using Max on a separate "maxphone" rather than a device used for banking, private communications, or other sensitive activities.

If the app must be used on a personal phone, Alisa advises relying on its browser version and denying the app permanent access to location, contacts, microphone, and camera. Meduza assures readers that this story was written by a human journalist and translated into English using AI, with extensive human editing to ensure accuracy. Any errors in the translation can be reported to reports@meduza.io.