In a move that has sparked heated debate, Ukraine has announced a ban on the use of the Telegram messaging app on the official devices of military personnel, government officials and critical infrastructure workers.
The decision, taken by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC), comes as a result of concerns about the ability of Russian special services to spy on the platform’s messages and users.
The evidence brought by the Ukrainian intelligence services
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency, a present The council concrete evidence of the popular app’s security vulnerabilities.
According to him, Russian special services could access not only users’ personal data, but also deleted and current messages.
Budanov stated that: “I have always supported and continue to support freedom of speech, but the issue of Telegram is not a matter of freedom of speech, but one of national security.”
Actions taken for official devices only
The restrictions apply only to official devices, not personal phones, as Andriy Kovalenko, head of the NSDC’s center for combating disinformation, clarified.
This clarification comes in the context where Telegram is extremely popular in Ukraine: about 75% of residents use it for communication, and 72% consider it a key source of information.
Telegram’s Role in War
The app became an important source of information from the start of the war.
Not only President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but also military commanders and regional or municipal officials use it to post, among other things, updates about the war.
It was founded by Pavel Durov, born in Russia. He left the country in 2014 after refusing to comply with demands to shut down opposition communities on VKontakte (the Russian Facebook).
Risks to national security
Ukraine’s Security Council pointed out that the app is “actively used by the enemy” to launch cyber attacks, spread malware and phishing messages.
It would also be used to gather intelligence that helps the Russian military target Ukrainian facilities with drones and missiles.
The Telegram Limiting Debate
Blocking or limiting the application in Ukraine lasts for about a year.
The measure aims to protect sensitive information and prevent potential leaks to Russia.
However, many voices argue that it could have knock-on effects on the flow of information and effective communication among Ukrainian officials.
Source: www.go4it.ro
