Ukraine has imposed a restriction on the use of Telegram for its government, military, and security officials, citing potential threats to national security and needing urgent attention to control it.
The decision was announced by the National Security and Defense Council, which emphasized that this action was necessary to prevent sensitive information from being compromised by Russian intelligence agencies or acquired by any other country that intends to have any motive.
During a recent meeting, evidence was presented showing that Russian intelligence services might have access to users’ personal data, including deleted messages, on Telegram. It was done like a backup.
“This is not a matter of freedom of speech but a matter of national security; it is a crucial and significant thing to be protected,” stated
Budanov argued that Telegram’s vulnerabilities posed significant risks to Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and military operations, among other relevant things.
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The ban will apply to officials, military personnel, and those in the defense sector, with exceptions only for those whose official duties require the use of the app.
The move highlights the growing concern about digital espionage and signals to other countries the importance of evaluating their own cybersecurity protocols.