TikTok more dangerous to Ukraine than Telegram, say local disinformation experts
therecord.media
“We’ve already figured Telegram out — we understand its structure and how it operates,” a Ukrainian official said. “TikTok, however, has become a significant concern for us.”

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/3758180

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Chinese social media giant TikTok is “more dangerous” to Ukraine in terms of spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation than the Russia-founded messaging app Telegram, according to Alina Aleksieeva, the deputy head of Ukraine’s State Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD).

[…]

“We often perceive Telegram as the primary culprit, given its abundance of anonymous Russian channels and the impersonation of Ukrainian ones,” said Svitlana Slipchenko, deputy executive director of the data analytics platform Vox Ukraine.

“But the problem extends beyond Telegram — fake news is widespread on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads,” she added. “The danger is focusing too narrowly on one platform while Russian propaganda continues to thrive across the entire digital landscape.”

Earlier this year, the CPD published a list of over 80 TikTok accounts used for Russian disinformation. The list includes official accounts of Russian state media, such as TASS, Sputnik, and RIA Novosti.

[…]

Ukraine has previously considered banning TikTok. The app’s future in the U.S. is uncertain due to concerns that ByteDance may have ties to the Chinese government. U.S. authorities have also accused the app of spreading harmful content and misinformation and posing privacy risks.

[…]

Ukraine has been paying close attention to foreign social media apps due to the risks they pose to its users amid the ongoing war. Earlier in September, Ukraine banned Telegram on official devices used by state and security officials, military personnel, and employees of critical infrastructure facilities.

[…]

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.worldEnglish
      203·
      2 days ago

      But it was.

      Telegram was launched in 2013 by the brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov. Previously, the pair founded the Russian social network VK, which they left in 2014, saying it had been taken over by the government.[23] Pavel sold his remaining stake in VK and left Russia after resisting government pressure.

      Telegram is now based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The company is registered as an LLC in the U.S. and as a company in the British Virgin Islands.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegram_(software)

      • LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        31·
        22 hours ago

        Re-read your own quote:

        Previously, the pair founded the Russian social network VK, which they left in 2014, saying it had been taken over by the government.

        VK was founded by private entrepreneur Durov in Russia, no relation to government at all, and was later taken over by the government in 2013.

        Telegram which is entirely unrelated to VK has no connection to Russia at all, and was never based in it, it’s inception was a direct response to the Russian government’s authoritarianism.

        Neither of these are “Russia-founded”, while forgivable to say this for VK as it is very much government run, Telegram has no relation to Russia and it’s raison d’etre is explicitly anti-Russian gov’t.

          • LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
            3·
            16 hours ago

            Hateful? Of who? Telegram? Are you responding to the wrong comment? I was simply correcting the mistake (or spin) in the OP

              • LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
                1·
                12 hours ago

                Aww, first day on the internet? I’m sorry, it is indeed most rude of me, how did I not consider my manners when countering misinformation that so strongly feels like racist propaganda! Hope you can accept this bottle of brandy my jolly governor, this is in most sincere apology!