In Ukraine, there are means to influence Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, in order to restrict the operation of specific channels in the country. This was stated by Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD), during a telethon.
«There is a possibility to influence Pavel Durov so that he limits specific channels for the territory of Ukraine. The tools for this have already been used in 2022, when channels like ‘Rybar’ were restricted,»
explained Kovalenko.
Kovalenko also noted that there are other restrictions, but he is not authorized to announce them, as other employees are dealing with them.
According to Kovalenko, the blocking process starts with compiling a list, which is then passed on to the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. This list contains a description of what violates the legislation and which publications on it are violations.
«The mechanism exists. We can also try to take an example from China, which forcibly removed applications from the App Store. This is one of the possible tools that can work. However, ‘VKontakte’ is still available in the App Store, and on Android you can also install it if I am not mistaken,»
added the head of the CPD.
Ukraine has long been discussing the activities of Telegram channels. The head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, expressed concern about anonymous channels in October, and former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov emphasized the importance of transparency of such channels. Even the head of Military Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov noted that, despite the problems, Telegram can be useful for Ukraine.
More details about the possible blocking of Telegram and TikTok in Ukraine, as well as the future of the telethon in 2024, can be found in an interview with the head of the Freedom of Speech Committee of the Verkhovna Rada, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn.
