Ukraine announced on Friday, Sept. 20, that it is banning the use of the Telegram messaging app for government officials and members of the military over fears Russia is using it to spy on Ukrainians. Ukraine’s security council said it has found evidence Russian special services accessed Telegram messages, including deleted ones, as well as personal information.
The head of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said the move is not a matter of supporting free speech but of protecting national security. Right now, the ban does not apply to personal devices.
It’s estimated that more than 70% of Ukrainians get their news from the app, including alerts for incoming missile attacks and evacuations, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regularly uses the app to broadcast announcements.
There are an estimated 33,000 Telegram channels in Ukraine alone, and it’s also been called “the last window into Russia,” as it’s one of the few platforms to circumvent a Russian crackdown with sources such as The New York Times and independent Russian outlets available on the app.
However, it’s also become a safe haven for terrorists and criminals, some of whom orchestrated terrorist attacks in Paris and Berlin. The lack of oversight also has Ukrainian officials worried.
The platform is reportedly teeming with pro-Russian propaganda, sparking concerns it could destabilize Ukrainian society as Russia is reportedly working on software to reveal the identities of anonymous users and access private chats
The platform was founded by Russian native Pavel Durov, who left the country in 2014 after refusing the Kremlin’s demands to shut down opposition communities on the app.
Durov was arrested in France in August on charges related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraud transactions on the Telegram app, but was later released on bail. He was instructed not to leave the country.
![TASS [🇷🇺-affiliated] logo](https://groundnews.b-cdn.net/interests/1c364c1e553231a17f22d4a16db85a51fb715dd3.jpg)
