Ukraine has imposed restrictions on the usage of the Telegram messaging app among government officials, military personnel, and workers in defense and critical infrastructure sectors, citing concerns for national security.
The ban was declared by the National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity (NCCC) in a post published on Facebook.
“I have always supported freedom of speech, but the issue with Telegram is not about freedom of speech, it is a matter of national security,” stated Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency, as per reports.
The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine explained that Telegram is being used by adversaries to carry out cyber attacks, spread phishing messages and malicious software, track user locations, and gather intelligence to assist the Russian military in targeting Ukraine’s facilities with drones and missiles.
Consequently, the use of Telegram has been forbidden on official devices of state authorities’ employees, military personnel, security and defense sector employees, and critical infrastructure operators.
It is important to note that the ban does not apply to personal devices or individuals using the app for official purposes.
Responding to the situation, Telegram assured that it has not shared any personal data with any country, including Russia, and that deleted messages are irreversibly deleted without any possibility of recovery.
This decision comes shortly after the CEO of Telegram was detained in France and subsequently released on bail in connection with an investigation into the app’s involvement in child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud.
