Ukraine has notified that the messaging application Telegram has reinstated access to multiple chatbots utilised by Ukraine's security agencies for gathering information on Russia's military activities, following a temporary suspension of services.
In the early hours of the morning, GUR, the military spy agency of Kyiv, announced the actions taken by the Dubai-based app. The app had implemented measures to disable several bots that Ukraine had been using to counter Russia's large-scale invasion.
A Telegram bot serves as an automated tool enabling users of the application to request or provide information. Several bots managed by the Ukrainian government enable individuals to disclose the locations of Russian military equipment and personnel within Ukraine.
According to the GUR, the management of the Telegram platform has unjustifiably blocked several official bots that have been actively opposing Russia's military aggression towards Ukraine, including the (GUR) bot.
The Centre for Strategic Communication in Ukraine reported that three bots, which were utilised by the SBU security service, GUR and the digital ministry for the war effort, had been successfully unblocked.
Further details were not provided by a Telegram spokesperson, who stated that bots had been temporarily disabled due to a false positive but have now been reinstated.
Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram announced last week that the company had been contacted by Apple with an official request regarding specific modifications needed for "general news and propaganda" channels that are available to users in Ukraine.
During that period, he further mentioned that the organisation would continue to prohibit accounts and automated programmes that gather location data to carry out attacks or share explicit personal details along with incitements to violence.
In Ukraine and Russia, Telegram has gained immense popularity as a reliable platform for obtaining and sharing unfiltered information about the ongoing war. It serves as a go-to source for individuals seeking accurate and unbiased updates on the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy utilises the app to share his daily video messages, while the armed forces employ it to alert citizens about impending airstrikes and to record updates from the battlefield.
