Ukraine has restricted the use of the Telegram messaging app by government officials, military personnel, and workers in defense and critical infrastructure, citing national security concerns.
The ban was announced by the National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity (NCCC) via Facebook. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence, emphasized that while he supports freedom of speech, the Telegram issue transcends this and is rooted in national security.
The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) noted that Telegram is "actively used by the enemy" for cyber attacks, phishing, spreading malware, tracking users, and gathering intelligence to aid Russian military operations against Ukraine.
As a result, Telegram is prohibited on official devices for state employees, military personnel, and those in the security and defense sector, as well as operators of critical infrastructure. However, the ban does not apply to personal devices or users conducting official duties.
Telegram has stated that it does not provide personal data to any country, including Russia, and that deleted messages are permanently erased with no recovery options.
This announcement follows the recent arrest and release on bail of Telegram's CEO in France, related to investigations into the app's use for child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud.
Source:The Hacker News.
