Authorities in Russia’s Kaluga region have announced plans to purchase specialized software for monitoring the Telegram messenger. The Ministry of Competitive Policy of Kaluga has launched an electronic auction for an “Automated Search and Monitoring System for the Telegram Messenger” valued at 1.5 million rubles. 

The contracting entity is the state budgetary institution “Center for Patriotic Education.” According to official documents, the software is designed for searching, monitoring, and analyzing publicly available information on Telegram. The system’s capabilities include tracking mentions of targeted subjects, collecting content data, mapping user connections, and monitoring public events, interethnic relations, and activists — including those deemed “destructive.” 

A notable feature involves compiling a list of 4 million mobile phone numbers in the region and cross-referencing them with Telegram registrations to link accounts with phone numbers, potentially identifying individual users. This raises concerns about extensive surveillance versus legitimate security measures.

source: Regional News LLC

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