One reason may be that Telegram is also a vital
conduit for Kremlin propagandists, analysts say.
Additionally, Telegram does not feature default
end-to-end encryption, which renders messages
unreadable by the company and outsiders, as the
popular U.S.-based messaging apps Signal and
WhatsApp do. WhatsApp is owned by Facebook’s
parent, Meta. Telegram does offer users fully
encrypted “private chats,” although users have to
make sure to activate them.
After the invasion, Signal founder Moxie
Marlinspike tweeted a reminder that sensitive
communication on insecure apps can literally
be a matter of life and death in war. A Signal
spokesman would not share user numbers, but
WhatsApp has an estimated 63 million users
in Russia.
Being able to access outside websites and apps
vital to staying informed depend, however, on
foreign-based VPN services that Russians say
they are having trouble paying for since Visa and
Mastercard cut off their country.