WhatsApp's use for one-on-one or group chats make it less of a target for Russian authorities for now, but that could change if it became known as a key platform for protests against the war. 'By improving their security and adopting end-to-end encryption technology, they have essentially protected their own platform from legal risk and potential demands for content access requests,' Toker added. Telegram has become an essential exchange for news on the war, with its growth accelerating after the Kremlin's latest crackdown on independent media and the lock-out of apps like Facebook and Instagram.Īn average of 2.5 million new users joined Telegram daily in the last three weeks, the firm said, about a 25% jump from the weeks prior.īut experts highlighted a risk to Telegram and its users due to a lack of default, end-to-end encryption that potentially leaves the company susceptible to government pressure to turn over information.Īlp Toker, director of web monitoring group NetBlocks, noted WhatsApp has put in place firestops that offer insulation against that sort of pressure. Russia still operates accounts on platforms like Facebook, despite blocking the service at home, but this week the Silicon Valley giant took down posts from Moscow's pages that contained misinformation about its deadly offensive.

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