MAX started using a digital ID. What you need to know

A new feature is being introduced in the MAX messenger — the creation of a digital ID. It should replace the use of ordinary paper documents in everyday circumstances, for example, when it is required to confirm the age for the purchase of restricted goods, as well as when checking into a hotel. What you need to know about the main functions of the social network is in the Izvestia article.

How the new feature works

• Only users over the age of 18 will be able to issue a digital ID. To do this, you need a smartphone with a camera and a verified profile on the Gosuslug portal. Biometric information can be attached at registration or downloaded by scanning a new passport format. After that, you need to take a selfie to verify your identity. The entire verification procedure takes about one minute, and the process is considered completed.

• The digital ID in the MAX messenger is a separate page with a verified photo and a dynamic QR code that automatically changes every half minute. You can use it exclusively on the device where it was designed. This reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access and enhances the protection of personal data. This feature makes it possible to confirm the age, status of a student or the presence of a large family, and all the necessary information is available right inside the application. The service is still operating in test mode.

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• After testing is completed, MAX will become a much more useful tool. Users will be able to undergo verification through Gosuslugi, and government agencies will receive verified accounts within the platform. This is a key competitive advantage compared to foreign messengers.

What else is there in MAX

• MAX is positioned as a national messenger and at the same time as a digital ecosystem of user services. It implements the functions of calls in audio and video formats, supports chats, voice messages, large file forwarding and money transfers. The news channels in the app are still working in a test version.

• The platform also has built-in business tools in the form of mini-applications and chatbots, thanks to which users can solve various everyday tasks. The application is included in the official registry of the Russian software and is available for installation both on mobile devices and in versions for computers and web browsers. In early September, the number of MAX users exceeded 30 million people.

• The application is optimized for different platforms, which allows you to use it both on mobile devices and on a computer without losing the quality of communication and data synchronization. At the same time, updates are released regularly and are aimed at improving functionality, increasing the level of protection and adding new convenient tools.

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• During the development of the domestic messenger, special attention was paid to security. WhatsApp (part of Meta, the organization is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation) and Telegram have long undermined their credibility, as they are actively used by scammers for various schemes, and the application management is unable to effectively combat criminals. If a person becomes a victim of a fraud at MAX, the probability of detecting violators is higher, since the messenger interacts with domestic law enforcement agencies and responds to their requests.

• At the same time, MAX cannot be considered just as another messenger. This is a full-fledged Russian digital platform, the capabilities of which go beyond the exchange of messages and calls. It implements identity identification services, as well as built-in business tools to make life easier for users.

When writing the material, Izvestia interviewed:

• Natalia Sirotkina, Head of the Business Development and Public Services Group at MAX;
• Anton Gorelkin, First Deputy of the IT Committee of the State Duma;
• Vladimir Maslov, Director of the Department of Digital Technologies at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• Sergey Vilyanov, a journalist and fintech expert.