The Russian government is running Telegram channels for state-affiliated media, including Sputnik and RT news, and has encouraged users to turn to the app for pro-Kremlin content. The double-edged swordĪs is the case with any powerful technology, the privacy afforded by Telegram is also a problem in the wrong hands. Russia’s penetration of Ukraine’s telecommunication networks has been pervasive during the invasion. Telegram is also valuable for Ukraine’s military, as it can help circumvent Russian surveillance and conduct intelligence operations. Western outlets including The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post have also joined. Presumably the bulk of these people are looking for independent news. ![]() Russian journalist Ilya Varlamov used Telegram to live stream the invasion, and has acquired 1.3 million subscribers since the war began.Īccording to Time, there has been a 48% increase in the number of Russian subscribers on Telegram since February 24 when Russia’s invasion began. Many Russians have also turned to the app for independent information, following the Kremlin’s clamp down on free media. President Zelenskyy has openly used Telegram to urge men to take up arms and resist the invasion. It’s likely similar actions have taken place in the context of the war on Ukraine. ![]() In 2020, people in Belarus opposing the Russian-supported authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko used the platform to organise a mass protest of around 100,000 people. Telegram has a history of being leveraged as a protest tool in times of conflict and oppression. The message includes their display name in plain, unlinked text, but this display name can easily be changed or deleted.Īlso, while users do need a phone number to create a Telegram account, the number doesn’t have to remain linked to the account (whereas a phone number will always remains linked to a WhatsApp account). When this is enabled, any message forwarded by a user is no longer traceable back to them. One feature that differentiates it from WhatsApp is anonymous forwarding. Telegram claims to be even more secure than similar apps such as WhatsApp and Line. Once the timer ends, the communication disappears forever. Users can also set a “self-destruct” timer on secret chats. This data isn’t stored anywhere apart from the sender’s and receiver’s device. When this is enabled, the communication between two users becomes end-to-end encrypted. ![]() This data could be decrypted, although doing so would be difficult.īut Telegram does offer another layer of security through its “ secret chat” feature. These centres are controlled by legal entities in various jurisdictions, and subject to the laws of those jurisdictions. The data is stored (albeit in an encrypted form) on the cloud, and distributed across multiple data centres throughout the world. However, while both public and private communications on Telegram are encrypted, the default encryption setting is not end-to-end encryption, and instead happens on a client/server basis. Through these groups and channels, organisations can reach hundreds of thousands of people with messages and audio/video live streaming – all of which is encrypted and stored on the Telegram “cloud”. It facilitates public and private groups of up to 200,000 users (where individuals can send messages and interact), and channels (which allow one-way broadcasting to channel subscribers). Telegram has several key features that make it an appealing option for communications relating to the war. ![]() It has even been a go-to point of contact for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Now Telegram is providing some clarity in a foggy environment of (mostly Russian) disinformation. The platform was first created in 2013 by Russian-born tech entrepreneur Pavel Durov – a figure who has butted heads with the increasingly authoritarian Russian state on numerous occasions. It’s a free cloud-based app that allows users to send and receive messages, calls, photos, videos, audio and other files. Telegram is one of the most popular social apps in Ukraine and Russia, and has been since before the invasion began. But what is it about Telegram that has millions flocking to it amid the chaos?įake viral footage is spreading alongside the real horror in Ukraine. The instant messaging app Telegram has surfaced as one of the most important channels through which to do so.
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