Google has temporarily disabled Google Maps features that provide live traffic data in Ukraine, the company confirmed for VICE World News. The company stated that it has taken this step for the safety of local communities following consultations with sources including regional authorities. However, the company declined to comment on what prompted the action, and whether similar actions have been taken during conflicts in the past.
Ukraine conflict
Ukraine internet outages spark concerns of broader blackout
According to a news report, following the invasion efforts by Russia on Ukraine which started just before midnight on Wednesday 23 February 2022, many civil society groups are worried about a possibility of direct attacks on the country’s internet infrastructure which would potentially limit information access on what is happening in Ukraine. Already, according to the report, internet connectivity has been reduced in some parts of the country with major blackouts centred around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Civil society organizations especially those championing human rights view the presence of reliable internet access as a means of monitoring and getting timely information from Ukraine.
Ukraine’s government calls for cryptocurrency donations
The Ukrainian government encouraged all interested parties to make cryptocurrency donations to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Digital Ministry clarified that the latest call for donations is to ‘help Ukraine armed forces’, but did not elaborate how the money would be spent.
Russia limits Twitter in parts of Russia
Twitter revealed in a recent post that Russia has put limitations on Twitter in certain parts of the country. In a tweet, the company said ‘We’re aware that Twitter is being restricted for some people in Russia and are working to keep our services safe and accessible.’ Internet watchdog NetBlocks reported the total or near-total restriction of Twitter in Russia.
Ukrainians announce launch of an ‘IT army’ to fight off Russia
Ukraine’s vice prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, announced the formation of an IT army and asked hackers to help protect key infrastructure and conduct cyber spying missions against Russian troops, in a tweet dated February 26, 2022.
‘There will be tasks for everyone. We continue to fight on the cyber front. The first task is on the channel for cyber specialists’. Mykhailo Fedorov also Tweeted.
Telegram ‘the main vector for invasion information’, says US media
Along with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declaration of war on Thursday, a network of pro-Kremlin propaganda Telegram channels started spreading disinformation online, US-based Foreign Policy reported. Within minutes of explosions being reported in Donetsk, Odessa, and Kyiv, several Telegram channels known for spreading pro-Russian propaganda supplied details, images, and video of the war in real time, in Russian, English, Spanish, and French. This prompted the Ukrainian government’s anti-disinformation body to issue a statement, referring to the work of those channels as ‘information terrorism’. It is not clear if these channels are operated by Russia or are merely ideologically close.
Ukraine officials published official cryptocurrency wallet for donations
The Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, posted on Twitter, addresses of official cryptocurrency wallets the Ukrainian government will manage. Listed wallets are for bitcoin, ether and tether cryptocurrencies.
Earlier in 2021, Ukraine adopted a law that puts a legal framework on cryptocurrencies and digital assets, so government can legally obtain and control digital assets
This came after a series of reports that crypto-founding campaigns were being used for scams and deceiving users, during the first two days of conflict.
Starlink is now active in Ukraine
Responding to Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Twitter, SpaceX founder Elon Musk stated on Saturday that the company’s Starlink satellite broadband service is now ‘operational in Ukraine, with more terminals on the way’.
The USA announces broad restrictions on technological exports to Russia
In response to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, the USA announced financial sanctions and export controls aiming to ‘choke off Russia’s import of technological goods’. The export controls aim not only to impact Russian imports of technology for the defense, aviation and maritime sectors, but also to impose restrictions on access to semiconductors, telecommunication, encryption security, lasers, and sensors. The measures will halt direct exports from the USA to Russia, and will also affect technological products that are manufactured outside the USA but use American equipment or technology (e.g. machinery, software or blueprints).
The White House estimates that ‘severe and sustained controls will cut off Russia’s access to cutting edge technology, contributing to undermine Putin’s ability to project power.’ Among analysts, views are split on the impact of the export restrictions. While some believe that the measure will have ‘a real, significant impact on these sectors of the Russian economy for many years’, others remarked that Russia ‘is not a significant direct consumer of chips or of information technology equipment.’
Ukraine calls for volunteer hackers to protect its critical infrastructure
The Ukrainian government is reportedly looking for volunteers from the country’s hacker underground to help defend the key infrastructure and perform cyber-surveillance missions against Russian forces.
The call came via a post by Yegor Aushev, co-founder of a cybersecurity firm in Kyiv which has worked with the Ukraine’s government on the defence of critical infrastructure. Aushev claims he wrote the post at the request of a senior Defense Ministry official who called him on Thursday, 24 February.
The post invites hackers and cybersecurity specialists to apply using Google Docs, specifying their specialisations and professional references. According to the post, the volunteers would be organised into two groups: defence and offensive cyber forces.