September 24, Pozirk. After Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced changes to privacy policy, the exiled Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) has advised its members to switch to safer messenger applications.
“After yesterday’s announcement, none of us has any guarantees of safe Telegram correspondence,” BAJ deputy chairman Barys Harecki has told Pozirk.
“The confidentiality of data on Telegram depends on Pavel Durov’s private interests. This, of course, is a threat. Since Telegram has declared its willingness to cooperate with authorities, this cooperation may clearly include Belarus,” Harecki said.
He pointed to potential media rights violations, citing European and Belarusian laws protecting journalists’ sources.
“Collecting information or giving access to correspondence in general will grossly violate journalists’ rights,” he said.
The BAJ advised media to migrate to Signal or Slack.
These messengers may not be as convenient as Telegram but have better protections, the association said.
“If it is personal data, it is half the trouble, image and reputational losses. People’s safety is a different story, and it will be really sad,” Harecki said, speaking of the use of Telegram data by authorities for criminal prosecution of journalists.
At least 42 journalists are held in prison in Belarus, according to Reporters Without Borders.
