Ukraine has banned the popular messaging app Telegram from being installed on state-issued devices for government officials, military personnel, and critical infrastructure workers. The National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre cited national security concerns during the ongoing war with Russia as the reason for the ban. The Security Service of Ukraine and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine highlighted Telegram’s use by Russia for cyberattacks, phishing, and other malicious activities.
However, the ban does not apply to Ukrainians who use the app on their personal devices. Telegram is widely used in Ukraine for communication, reading news, and following updates on Russian air attacks. It is also a primary tool for Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to engage with the public and share war developments. Zelenskyy is expected to continue using Telegram for official communications.
Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, raised concerns about Russian intelligence services accessing personal messages, deleted messages, and personal data of Telegram users. Budanov emphasized that the issue goes beyond freedom of speech and is a matter of national security.
The ban has received mixed reactions, with some supporting it as a necessary step to protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands, while others raising concerns about potential limitations on freedom of speech. Despite the ban on state-issued devices, Ukrainians are still free to use Telegram on their personal devices for communication and information sharing.
Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com