While this can be true, I'd be careful before making any inferences here. For example, there's good research [1] on how FSB uses the fact that Telegram metadata is in the open to run counter-insurgency on occupied territories. This is likely among FSB's highest priorities - but there's no evidence that they have used some level of insider access or control (or at least that they are willing to burn it even on Ukraine).

Second, Telegram not being blocked is hardly an argument. Neither are Signal, WhatsApp or YouTube for example. Are all of these also controlled by the FSB? And the general embrace of z-propagandists is likely due the fact that Telegram is extremely popular all over post-Soviet space. As far as I know, pro-Ukrainian people use Telegram just as much, and just as much as a news source.

None of this is to say that Telegram is a good choice for a reasonably secure messenger or is trustworthy at all (and [1] lists some very convincing reasons for why it is not so). But "may be run by the feds" is a strong claim, and so far it is not supported by evidence.

[1] https://www.pwnallthethings.com/p/russia-is-spying-on-telegr...

>Telegram being the only network not blocked in Russia

This is not true. WhatsApp is still working. They banned facebook and instagram but not whatsapp. Viber, Signal, Threema, Wire still works, too. The only blocked currently, i think, is Line.

Not saying "trust telegram", but still.

The recent events regarding the twitter files for example or the knowledge gained from snowden clearly show you that intelligence agencies worldwide are everywhere to be found where social activities are taking place

I’d be totally shocked if they were not. From their point of view setting up honeypots and tapping social media is an absolute no brainer, as is leveraging it for “active measures.”

All major intelligence agencies are probably neck deep in these activities.