Why ?? Telegram became the go-to app for Ukrainians
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| Newsflixall.com |
For weeks, Russia's military assault on Ukraine has been complemented by full-fledged information warfare. The Kremlin has propagandised Russian state media, and is trying to control the narrative online too. We've seen a bombardment of "imposter content" circulating - including fake news reports and deepfake videos - while Ukranians and the rest of the world have scrambled to find ways to tell the real story of the invasion. The instant messaging app Telegram has surfaced as one of the most important channels through which to do so. But what is it about Telegram that has millions flocking to it amid the chaos?
How does it work Telegram has Several key features that make it an appealing option for communications relating to the war 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 meets politics (once again) Telegram has a history of being leveraged as a protest tool in times of conflict and oppression. 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. Many Russians have also turned to the app for independent information, following the Kremlin's dampdown on free media. Russian journalist Ilya Varlamov used Telegram to live stream the invasion, and has acquired 1.3 million subscribers since the war began. According to Time, there has been a 48% increase in the number of Russian subscribers on Telegram since February 24 when Russia's invasion began. Presumably the bulk of these people are looking for independent news. Western outlets induding The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post have also joined. Telegram is also valuable for Ukraine's military, as it can help . circumvent Russian surveillance and conduct intelligence operations. Russia's penetration of Ukraine's telecommunication networks has been pervasive during the invasion.
The double-edged sword As is the case with any powerful technology, the privacy afforded by Telegram is also a problem in the wrong hands. The Russian government is running Telegram channels for stateaffiliated media, including Sputnik and RT news, and has encouraged users to turn to the app for pro-Kremlin content. Telegram is also valuable for Ukraine's military, as it can help circumvent Russian surveillance and conduct intelligence operations. Russia's penetration of Ukraine's telecommunication networks has been pervasive during the invasion. For example, the private Telegram channel "combolist" - on which hackers sold and circulated large amounts of stolen data - had more than 47,000 users before it was taken down.
Pressure is mounting Telegram has a record of refusing calls to moderate content (perhaps due to Durov's libertarian view of how such technologies should be governed). Moreover, the way the platform is built means there is a limit to how much it can be moderated. In many cases, Telegram won't be aware of illegal activity until it is notified. And with end-to-end encryption, it's dificult to know just how much harmful content is making the rounds. Teleor intervene in a limited number of cases, and with a Still, it seems mounting threats and legal concemsha chip away at Durov's resolve
lave started to A ban on Telegram was enacted by Brazil's Supreme Friday, in a bid to stop fake news spreading ahead October elections The ban was lifted two days later after Durow to comply with the court's requirements. He dele Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, removed and promised the monitoring of others Similarly, Geo thone se to preventate and indement from conspiradists. As reported more than response....
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