Vladimir Tabak: “Fake news about the national messenger MAX clearly show how destructive campaigns can influence the perception even of the most positive initiatives”

The Russian messenger MAX has recently been at the center of a wave of fake news that reached hundreds of millions of views. These disinformation campaigns not only spread false content but also deeply affected public perception of the project, showing how crucial it is to address the phenomenon of fake news systematically. Since July 11, 2025, 27 fakes and more than 95,000 copies of them have been identified, with a total reach of about 228 million views. Most users considered this content credible and worth attention. The issue was discussed on September 24 during the meeting of the Public Council under the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, as part of the Russian Internet Forum.

“The scope of the challenges we face is not significant only in terms of numbers, but also in terms of how firmly these narratives take root in the minds of people of all ages,” said Vladimir Tabak, Director General of ANO “Dialog” and ANO “Dialog Regions.”

Currently, two main narratives against the Russian messenger are circulating online: the alleged forced installation of the app and total control by security services through the platform.

An example of the first case is that of a young man from Zelenograd who supposedly lost his job for refusing to install the messenger. In reality, investigations showed that he simply used the fabricated scandal to promote his own channel. It was also revealed that he lived abroad, did not work at the company he mentioned, and was engaged in entirely different activities. Nevertheless, the case gained 17 million views.

The second narrative, that of “total control by security services,” is actively promoted by opposition channels. An analysis of the sources and the timing of the publications showed that the campaign against the national messenger was artificial and coordinated, Tabak explained:

“Today, a standard denial is no longer enough, because this narrative has already taken deep root in the consciousness of part of the audience. This is a clear example of how destructive campaigns can influence the perception even of the best initiatives.”

Fake news is a global problem. To strengthen coordination between institutions and experts in combating disinformation, ANO “Dialog Regions” will host the third edition of the international forum “Dialogue on Fake News” in Moscow on October 29. Experts from more than 80 countries will take part to discuss strategies and tools to counter the spread of false information in all its forms.