Ban anonymous channels: the Rada is preparing a bill to regulate Telegram
Kyiv • UNN
The Verkhovna Rada is preparing a draft law to regulate the social network Telegram in Ukraine by introducing measures similar to those applied to platforms such as YouTube, including disclosure of ownership, restrictions on prohibited content, and restrictions on use by government agencies if the owners are not transparent.
The Verkhovna Rada is preparing a bill to regulate the Telegram social network in Ukraine. This was reported by UNN , citing a statement by Ukrainian MP Mykola Kniazhytskyi on Facebook.
Details
Today I am initiating a draft law on the regulation of Telegram and similar media distribution platforms in Ukraine. I invited my fellow MPs to join me in signing it
According to him, the problem with Telegram is that it is a russian network, which, however, is actively promoted by the Ukrainian authorities as the main source of information for Ukrainians.
He reminded that the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine advise to restrict the use of Telegram, but they themselves use it as an official source of information for Ukrainians.
The MP said that over the two years of war, the social network has become an alternative to a round-the-clock telethon.
No, we do not propose to block Telegram. (...) In fact, we are talking about introducing for services that disseminate mass information (Telegram is just one of them) approximately the same regulation as established by law for platforms such as YouTube
According to him, The Media Law regulates all types of media, except for platforms like Telegram and the like. That is, platforms like YouTube, online media, and TV channels, including foreign ones, are all subject to separate regulation.
Instead, messengers like Telegram are mentioned in the law, but there is no regulation for them.
The MP provided the main list of proposed changes:
- They (platforms - ed.) should respond to the dissemination of the same content through them that is already prohibited from being disseminated through other media (including YouTube and online media). We are talking about pornography, drug propaganda, glorification of fascism, justification of russian aggression, etc. The list of prohibitions remains the same as it is now, and this draft law does not change it;
- they (platforms - ed.) are obliged to disclose the ownership structure and sources of funding at the request of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting, as is currently provided for other media and services;
- if the ownership structure or sources of funding of the platform are found to be non-transparent, this platform cannot be used by government agencies and financial institutions that process personal data of Ukrainians. Such platforms and related services will not be able to be installed on any devices used for official purposes. This is in line with the practice that already exists in Switzerland and some EU countries. For example, in Norway, employees have been prohibited from using Telegram and work-related devices since March 2023 for roughly the same reasons;
- Since the security and defense forces must have specifics of their activities due to their nature, restrictions and prohibitions on the use of platforms with opaque ownership do not apply to them. Rather, they may be applied if it is established by a government resolution.
Recall
A representative of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Yusov, said that Telegram poses a threat to Ukraine's information security and that work is underway to counter disinformation on platforms such as Telegram and TikTok.
