Over the past two weeks, numerous individuals throughout Russia have experienced difficulties when trying to access Google Meet, the most recent platform to encounter disruptions as the government promotes its own “super-app,” named Max.
Several Russians reported to The Moscow Times that they were unable to connect to the video conferencing service at all, or that their calls frequently dropped.
When The Moscow Times attempted to reach several contacts in Russia via Google Meet, a “No Internet” notification appeared. This issue was easily resolved when those in Russia activated a VPN.
The internet rights organization Roscomsvoboda has noted that some users have encountered problems where the Google Meet interface loads, but the calls lack sound and video before disconnecting. A young woman from Moscow shared a similar experience with The Moscow Times.
Several users, including a therapist conducting online sessions with clients, mentioned they are transitioning to alternative video call platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Yandex Telemost.
While it is challenging to determine the exact extent of the disruptions, data from the outage tracking service DownDetector and independent media surveys suggest that the issues are widespread, although not a complete shutdown, as some users continue to access Google Meet without complications.
Last month, Google Meet moved up to the second position among the most-downloaded free communication applications in the Russian App Store, following reports of authorities limiting calls on popular messaging platforms WhatsApp and Telegram.
Russia’s state communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, later confirmed that it was throttling these two applications, justifying the action as an anti-fraud measure to protect citizens. However, it has denied any restrictions on Google Meet.
When reports of issues with Google Meet first surfaced last month, Google acknowledged being aware of the problems but maintained that they were not related to any technical difficulties on its side.
The timing of these disruptions has sparked speculation that they may be part of a larger initiative to promote Max, the government-supported “super-app” launched in March, which combines messaging, payment, and government services.
The app has rapidly gained traction, boasting over 18 million registered accounts, a significant increase from one million in June. Its popularity has been enhanced by celebrity endorsements and its mandatory use in educational institutions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rebuffed claims that the government is attempting to eliminate foreign applications from the market in favor of promoting the state-sponsored app.
“Max cannot progress without competition,” he told reporters. “Max has emerged as a cutting-edge service that millions of our citizens wish to download, and it must continuously evolve… therefore, competitors are necessary.”
Reporters Mack Tubridy and Ned Garvey contributed to this article.
