Reports from Ukraine reveal a new unofficial client of the Telegram messenger called Telega, which is being actively promoted in Russia. This application, it has become known, operates on the infrastructure of VK and the state messenger MAX, both fully under the control of the Russian government.
Telega supposedly allows users to bypass call restrictions, but in reality, according to IT specialists, it is used for state digital surveillance. This grants authorities the ability to censor channels, monitor communications, and collect personal user data such as IP addresses, phone numbers, and call metadata.
The program's code also contains a VK service API key and a «blacklist» function for channels that can be activated remotely. This indicates a new tool for censorship and surveillance.
Essentially, the Russian state has found a way to deceitfully access its citizens' smartphones under the guise of «bypassing censorship». Step by step, Russia is constructing a «digital concentration camp» where even attempts to maintain privacy can become dangerous.
