PROSPECTS OF REGULATING MEDIA RESOURCES ON TELEGRAM: UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE
Abstract
The article examines the structure of the Ukrainian media landscape on the Telegram platform in the context of a full-scale war and the prospects for its regulation. The study is based on the monitoring of 288 Telegram channels in the News and Media category.
Special attention is paid to regulatory aspects, including the Ukrainian Law "On Media" and a comparison of its instruments with the European Digital Services Act (DSA). The study shows that, although online media is represented on Telegram, most popular Ukrainian Telegram channels have anonymous owners and are not subject to national legislation, creating potential threats in the information space. The study examines various mechanisms for regulating content, including pre-moderation, channel verification, removal of illegal content upon user complaints or requests from government authorities, outright banning from the platform, and preventive measures.
The study shows that in times of war, corporate social media regulation policies are ineffective. Blocking a platform in a particular country is a coercive but unproductive solution in the long run. In the case of Ukraine, the situation is complicated by the fact that a powerful communication infrastructure has already formed around Telegram, and its destruction would mean the loss of an important channel of communication with citizens. The author also stresses the need to regulate AI technologies implemented on digital platforms, including Telegram.
A comprehensive analysis of the Ukrainian segment of Telegram as a media space with unique characteristics that have emerged in the context of the war has enabled us to develop practical recommendations for regulating this platform by Ukrainian and European law.
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References
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