Telegram has refused to hand over its encryption keys, claiming the demand violates Russia’s constitution. The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, stated earlier this month that terrorists had used messaging apps to coordinate 29 attempted attacks in Russia in 2018 alone. Officials have repeatedly said that terrorists use the app - and other encrypted chat apps like it - to coordinate attacks. Judges ruled the app had violated Russian anti-terror laws by failing to provide the security services with access to encrypted messages. On Friday, a Russian court ruled to ban Telegram. Why have I been hearing about it in the news? The Calvert Journal explains what Telegram is and why this conflict is so important for the future of the Russian Internet. If a ban on the platform goes ahead, however, it could set an important precedent for Russia, which has never blocked online resources before in this way. The service has an estimated 9 million users in Russia and many millions more across the world.Īmid a court fight in Moscow, Telegram has taken a principled stance on privacy.

Similar in design to other messaging apps like WhatsApp or Viber, Telegram, which launched in 2013, is a popular way to send texts, photos, videos and links to other phones or devices.

Messaging app Telegram has become the latest online battleground in Russia as fears rise that the Kremlin is heading towards China-like censorship of an entire Internet platform.

What is the telegram app used for