Blocking cannot work: MP proposes to close Telegram in Ukraine like "Vkontakte" and "Odnoklassniki"

Ukrainian officials have once again raised the issue of restricting the use of the messaging app Telegram. Earlier this year, discussions began regarding the idea of imposing fines and state control over the platform's operations. Now, the focus has shifted to the potential blocking of Telegram in Ukraine.

This possibility was announced by Nikita Poturaev, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy and a deputy from the "Servant of the People" party, in an interview with RBC Ukraine.

“There are no resources for regulation. There won't be any. There is no opportunity, and there won’t be, because it is beyond our jurisdiction. This applies to all social media. What will happen if we ignore these threats? There won’t be Ukraine. Because we cannot talk about any informational hygiene,” the official stated.

Nikita Poturaev believes that given the lack of resources and ability to regulate Telegram's activities in Ukraine, the messaging service should be blocked similarly to Russian social networks "VKontakte" and "Odnoklassniki." There are technical capabilities to block the platform in Ukraine.

At the same time, Poturaev emphasized that the use of Telegram by government bodies is a problem that will cost everyone dearly, “especially those who utilize it.”

“When 80% of the population uses an unmoderated social network, which is fundamentally unmoderated, whose management does not communicate with your state, and there is enough evidence that it remains affiliated with Russia and under the influence of Russian security services, it is a huge mistake that will, I repeat, be costly,” the MP said.

To address the Telegram issue in Ukraine, Poturaev suggests introducing a relevant bill. Essentially, this document will indicate that the Ukrainian government will block the activities of platforms that do not comply with it: “either networks or platforms establish a dialogue with the Ukrainian state, or the state simply shuts them down.”

Source: RBC Ukraine