Google Play removes Russian apps Max, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki

Google Play has removed the apps of the Russian social media platforms VKontakte and Odnoklassniki and the Max messaging app.

Source: VKontakte in a statement on 16 July

Details: The removal of the apps appears to be linked to the recent EU sanctions imposed on VKontakte and its subsidiary, Communications Platform, the investment company that developed Max. The EU says the messaging app was created under the control of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and includes surveillance capabilities.

At the end of June, similar removals took place in Apple's App Store, which deleted the apps for Odnoklassniki, Mail.ru and several VKontakte services, in particular VK Music, VK Messenger, VK Video and VK Dating.

The company complained that the apps had been removed "without prior notice" and described Apple's decision as "unjustified and unacceptable". Those claims were absent from its latest statement.

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