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Ukraine has banned Telegram on government, defence and critical infrastructure devices due to concerns about national security.
The country’s National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity (NCCC) announced the ban following a meeting on 19 September.
❗️ NCSCC has decided to restrict the use of #Telegram in government agencies, military formations, and critical infrastructure facilities.
— НКЦК (@ncsccUA) September 20, 2024
Read more: https://t.co/o2zAGbAmUD pic.twitter.com/zqHKFqds4L
The meeting, which was led by Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, Oleksandr Lytvnenko, discussed the risks Telegram presented, particularly in relation to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
One of the main concerns raised had to do with Telegram being susceptible to Russian espionage. Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov presented evidence that suggested that Russian intelligence can use the platform to collect user data as well as access messages, including those that have been deleted.
“I have always advocated freedom of speech, but the issue of Telegram is not a matter of freedom of speech; it is a matter of national security,” said Budanov.
Additionally, the use of Telegram as a weapon by Russian forces was discussed, with state agency threat actors and forces using the platform to launch cyber attacks, distribute malware and launch phishing campaigns.
What’s more, Telegram’s geolocation feature means that users can be tracked, providing Russia with critical information that would allow them to foresee an oncoming attack, monitor troop activity and launch devastating attacks like missile strikes.
Telegram will still be available for public use and for government roles in which the use of the platform is critical, such as for Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, who use Telegram to engage with the public.
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