Russia’s state-backed messaging app Max blocks regional chats where users tracked gas availability and shared information about lines at filling stations

Russia's state-backed messaging app Max has shut down group chats in several regions where users were sharing real-time updates on gas availability and the status of long queues at filling stations. This move highlights the Kremlin's efforts to control information dissemination, particularly during times of potential supply disruptions. Such actions underscore the government's preference for maintaining a tightly controlled narrative over fostering grassroots, community-driven information sharing. This incident reflects broader concerns about the state's increasing grip on digital communication channels.