Ukraine has banned authorities officers, army personnel and different protection and significant infrastructure employees from putting in the favored messaging app Telegram. File | Picture credit score: AP
Ukraine has banned authorities officers, army personnel and different protection and significant infrastructure employees from putting in the favored messaging app Telegram on state-issued units, describing the transfer as obligatory for nationwide safety in the course of the struggle with Russia.
The Nationwide Cybersecurity Coordination Middle of Ukraine introduced the ban on official units of presidency staff, army personnel, safety and protection employees, and staff of important infrastructure. The ban was introduced on Friday (September 20, 2024) by the Safety and Protection Council of Ukraine in an announcement on Fb.
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Throughout a gathering on Thursday (September 19), the Safety Service of Ukraine and the Common Employees of the Armed Forces of Ukraine mentioned that Russia actively makes use of Telegram for cyberattacks, phishing, spreading malware, establishing person areas and calibrating missile strikes.
An exception to the ban can be allowed for individuals who use the app within the framework of their official duties. Ukrainians will be capable of use the app on their private units.
The app is extensively utilized in Ukraine not just for texting, but in addition for studying information, together with updates on Russian airstrikes. It’s also the primary manner Ukrainian officers, together with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have interaction with the general public and broadcast developments within the struggle. Zelenskyy will probably proceed to make use of Telegram in his public communications, as it’s an official medium.
Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov mentioned Russian intelligence providers can entry the non-public messages of the app’s customers, together with deleted messages, in addition to their private knowledge, the assertion mentioned.
“I’ve all the time defended and proceed to defend freedom of expression, however the Telegram concern just isn’t a query of freedom of expression; it’s a query of nationwide safety,” Budanov mentioned, based on the assertion.
Printed – September 20, 2024 07:24 pm IST