Ukraine bans Telegram use on state-issued devices

Ukraine has officially banned the use of the Telegram messaging app on devices that are issued to government and military personnel. This decision was made by the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, which is a key organization responsible for the country's safety. The council stated that this ban is necessary to reduce the risks posed by Russia, which has been involved in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2022. According to the council, Telegram is being used by Russian forces to conduct cyber-attacks, spread harmful software, track users' locations, and even assist in missile targeting. The council emphasized that the safety of the nation is a priority, and they are taking steps to protect their officials from potential threats. Telegram, the company behind the app, responded by stating that they have never shared any messaging data with any country, including Russia. This assertion aims to reassure users about their privacy and the security of their communications. The app is widely used by both Ukrainian and Russian government officials, making this ban a significant move. The decision to prohibit Telegram on official devices was reached during a meeting that included top information security officials, military leaders, and lawmakers. During this meeting, military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov presented credible evidence suggesting that Russian intelligence services could access the personal messages of Telegram users, even those that had been deleted. Budanov expressed his support for freedom of speech but clarified that the issue surrounding Telegram is not about free speech; it is fundamentally about national security. He stated, 'I have always supported and continue to support freedom of speech, but the issue of Telegram is not a matter of freedom of speech, it is a matter of national security. ' The council also mentioned that officials who need to use Telegram as part of their job responsibilities would be exempt from this ban. Andriy Kovalenko, who leads the council's efforts to combat misinformation, clarified that the ban only applies to official devices and does not affect personal smartphones. This means that government officials and military personnel can still use Telegram on their personal devices and continue to manage their official Telegram accounts. A survey conducted by USAID-Internews last year revealed that Telegram is the most popular social media platform in Ukraine for news consumption, with 72% of Ukrainians using it. This statistic highlights the app's importance in the country. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition groups on the platform. Recently, he has come under investigation in France for organized crime, which has sparked discussions about freedom of speech, accountability, and how social media platforms manage content. In July, Durov announced that Telegram had reached 950 million monthly active users. Following Ukraine's claims, a spokesperson for Telegram expressed interest in reviewing any evidence that supports Budanov's assertions, adding that, 'to our knowledge, no such evidence exists. ' The spokesperson reiterated that Telegram has never provided any messaging data to any country, including Russia, and emphasized that deleted messages are permanently erased and cannot be recovered. The company also stated that any instances of alleged 'leaked messages' have been traced back to compromised devices, whether through confiscation or malware.