{"id":106418,"date":"2024-09-24T18:57:52","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T15:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/106418\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"association-advises-journalists-to-migrate-from-telegram-to-safer-messengers","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/106418\/","title":{"rendered":"Association advises journalists to migrate from Telegram to safer messengers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Pavel Durov\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Collage by themoscowtimes.com (Durov's picture on Instagram\/pixabay.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 24, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“After yesterday’s announcement, none of us has any guarantees of safe Telegram correspondence,” BAJ deputy chairman Barys Harecki has told Pozirk<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pointed to potential media rights violations, citing European and Belarusian laws protecting journalists’ sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Collecting information or giving access to correspondence in general will grossly violate journalists’ rights,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The BAJ advised media to migrate to Signal or Slack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These messengers may not be as convenient as Telegram but have better protections, the association said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least 42 journalists are held in prison in Belarus, according to Reporters Without Borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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