Xiaomi prohibits installing Telegram on its smartphones
Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone maker, is banning the installation of the Telegram app on devices using the MIUI operating system, BleepingComputer reports.
For Ukrainians who order smartphones in China or buy them in Ukraine with Chinese firmware, this may mean that they will not be able to use the popular messenger.
MIUI is an Android-based operating system used by Xiaomi on their mobile devices. With the MIUI 13 update in 2022, the company added a new security feature that allows you to detect and block dangerous apps on devices.
This feature has aroused suspicion and criticism among users due to Xiaomi’s possible cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to track user activity and restrict applications.
These suspicions were reinforced when MIUI began to block applications that allowed changing network settings other than the standard ones. If an app is deemed unsafe, MIUI tries to uninstall it and prevent its installation.
MIUI now marks the popular messaging platform Telegram as unsafe in China.
The designation of Telegram as a suspicious app may indicate the Chinese government’s efforts to restrict freedom of speech and personal privacy.
Also, unofficial posts in Indian Telegram communities indicate that attempts to circumvent censorship in China may be referred to the Chinese police.
In recent years, the Chinese government has routinely restricted or banned access to many major platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Google, limiting the freedom of communication for millions of people.
