Kremlin Archives

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Russia uses messaging apps to recruit terrorists, Ukraine’s police says

Russian intelligence agencies are using digital platforms to recruit Ukrainian citizens for terrorism, targeting vulnerable individuals such as the young, unemployed, and those with antisocial lifestyles. Many recruits face death or imprisonment instead of receiving promised payments. Ukrainian authorities have recorded nine attempted terrorist attacks this year, believed to be orchestrated by Russian intelligence, aiming to destabilize Ukraine and undermine public trust in its security. Telegram is a favored platform for Russian operatives to recruit individuals for disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks. Additionally, a recent espionage initiative recruited Ukrainian teenagers under the guise of “quest games” to gather intelligence for Russian forces. In September, a local individual was arrested for setting up surveillance cameras for Russian intelligence, having been recruited via Telegram with promises of easy money.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Russia considers complete ban on calls in messaging apps

The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, along with Roskomnadzor, is considering imposing restrictions on voice calls made through messaging applications due to a rise in fraudulent activities. Two scenarios being evaluated include blocking voice traffic from abroad and a complete ban on voice calls within these apps. Roskomnadzor has acknowledged its authority to restrict such calls if they violate Russian law but the Ministry has stated it is not currently drafting regulations for this purpose. Fraudulent calls via messaging apps have surged to about 40% of total traffic, up from 1% three years ago. MegaFon, Russia's second-largest mobile operator, has stated it lacks the technical capabilities to analyze calls from these apps and suggests that additional software on users' smartphones is the only effective way to mitigate fraudulent calls.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Controversial messaging app Telegram is profitable, says its founder. Here’s how it makes money.

Encrypted messaging service Telegram has achieved profitability after 11 years of operation, with revenue surpassing billion in 2024 and cash reserves of 0 million. CEO Pavel Durov attributed this success to advertising and premium subscriptions. The company introduced initiatives like a revenue-sharing model for content creators and a premium subscription tier priced at .99 per month. Telegram has reduced its billion debt and noted a significant turnaround from the previous year, when it reported a loss of million on revenues of million. Despite its financial success, the platform faces global scrutiny over misinformation and limited content moderation, with bans in several countries and a history of being prohibited in Russia from 2018 to 2020.

AppWizard

October 11, 2024

Discord: Why the messaging app is under scrutiny

Russia's telecoms regulator, Roskomnadzor, banned Discord due to its failure to prevent illicit activities such as terrorism and drug trafficking, particularly after not complying with a directive to remove nearly a thousand pieces of inappropriate content. This ban is part of a trend targeting Western social media platforms since the Ukraine invasion in February 2022. Following Russia, Turkey's BTK communications authority also banned Discord, citing the need to protect children from online threats and ongoing investigations into blackmailing minors. In the U.S., Discord is under FBI scrutiny for grooming minors and distributing child sexual abuse material, with 35 prosecutions linked to the platform in the past six years. Additionally, regulators in Germany and France have raised concerns about Discord's data collection methods, leading to an €800,000 fine in France for failing to comply with EU data protection regulations. Launched in May 2015, Discord has over 150 million active users and is popular for its voice and text communication features, but has also faced criticism for facilitating extremist content and political discourse.

AppWizard

October 6, 2024

The Trolling of the ‘Minecraft Movie’ Trailer Isn’t Exactly What You Think

In early September, Warner Bros. released a teaser for A Minecraft Movie, directed by Jared Hess, featuring Jack Black as Steve and Jason Momoa. The trailer's whimsical tone sparked online backlash, particularly against cast member Danielle Brooks, with right-wing influencers criticizing her inclusion as “forced diversity.” This reaction mirrored past campaigns against diversity in entertainment, reminiscent of Gamergate. Wendy Via noted that the portrayal of “wokeness” as a threat in entertainment is not new, citing similar criticisms aimed at other projects like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and The Acolyte. The backlash against A Minecraft Movie aligns with a broader trend of targeting diverse representation in media, with right-leaning fans of the franchise feeling activated by the film's adaptation. The US Department of Justice also indicted two employees of the Russian news network RT for allegedly funding the right-wing influencer network Tenet Media, which disseminated Kremlin-approved narratives. Additionally, reports indicated that The Acolyte would not be renewed for a second season, which some interpreted as a victory for far-right narratives against diversity in media.

AppWizard

September 20, 2024

Facebook, Instagram & WhatsApp Ban Russian State Media

Meta has announced a global ban on several Russian state-controlled media outlets, including the TV network RT and the media group Rossiya Segodnya, across its platforms Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. The ban is a response to concerns about deceptive practices employed by these media networks to influence public opinion. This decision follows sanctions imposed on RT by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who accused the network of facilitating disinformation. Rossiya Segodnya and RT are Kremlin-backed organizations that present themselves as independent but share the same editor-in-chief. Both have faced bans in various countries for disseminating disinformation and promoting Russian propaganda. Meta has a history of implementing similar bans, including the suspension of Donald Trump's account in 2021 and the banning of Alex Jones for violating community standards.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram founder Pavel Durov facing charges over allowing criminal activity on messaging app

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris and released on €5 million bail, but is barred from leaving France amid a legal investigation into allegations of criminal activity linked to the platform. He faces serious accusations, including allowing the distribution of child sexual abuse material and facilitating organized crime activities. French authorities claim Telegram has been uncooperative in providing necessary information for the investigation. Durov is facing preliminary charges, suggesting there are substantial grounds to believe a crime has occurred, yet this stage does not automatically lead to a trial. In response to the allegations, Telegram asserts its compliance with EU laws and defends its moderation practices. Durov's arrest has led to protests in Russia, with some officials claiming it is politically motivated. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the arrest is not politically motivated and emphasized the importance of freedom of expression within a legal framework. Telegram, founded by Durov, has nearly a billion users and has faced criticism for its lack of content moderation, leading to exploitation by criminal elements. The German government previously fined Telegram €5.1 million for failing to comply with regulations on illegal content.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram has become a key tool for the Russian military. Why does Moscow continue to rely on a Dubai-based civilian messaging app? — Meduza

Tech billionaire Pavel Durov was recently arrested in France, prompting discussions in Russia about the Telegram messenger app's role in the Ukraine conflict. The Russian military utilizes Telegram as a communication tool, particularly for logistical discussions and establishing reconnaissance-strike networks. Russian Armed Forces maintain Telegram chats for various purposes, while Ukrainian forces often use other platforms like WhatsApp and Viber. Access to messenger apps diminishes among assault units due to limited Internet access; however, Telegram plays a crucial role in external communications linking frontline troops with pro-Kremlin correspondents. Despite its use, experts argue that Telegram is not suitable for military applications. The Russian military has sought to create a unified digital management system since the Soviet era, but delays have hindered the deployment of a military-specific messenger system.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram CEO charged in France for ‘allowing criminal activity’ on messaging app

Pavel Durov, the head of Telegram, has been charged by the French judiciary for allegedly allowing criminal activities on the platform, including complicity in the dissemination of sexual images of minors. He was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris and was released on bail set at €5 million, with the condition that he reports to a police station twice a week. Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire with French citizenship, is part of a broader investigation into Telegram's moderation practices regarding illicit content. Telegram claims compliance with EU laws and defends its moderation efforts. Durov, who resides in Dubai and holds citizenship in both France and the UAE, has faced scrutiny for Telegram's alleged use by criminal organizations, despite asserting that child abuse material and public calls for violence are "red lines." His low public profile contrasts with other tech executives, and while some Russian officials suggest his arrest may be politically motivated, French President Emmanuel Macron has denied such claims.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Is Telegram, Ukraine’s most popular messenger app, a Russian Trojan horse?

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was recently arrested in Paris on accusations of facilitating terrorism through his app, raising security concerns in Ukraine where Telegram has become the most popular messenger since the Russian invasion in 2022. A poll shows that over half of Ukrainians now prefer Telegram for news updates, a significant rise from 20% in 2021. Telegram's anonymity has led to its misuse, with Russian forces exploiting the platform to create fake accounts and spread disinformation. The app has a history of being utilized in political campaigns, influencing public perception, and has been linked to harassment of journalists and anti-corruption activists. Despite concerns about accountability and misinformation, Ukrainian authorities are not considering a ban on Telegram but are exploring regulations for transparency and accountability.