Telegram as Primary Data Source

data-sourcesarchitecturescope

Context

Vector needed to choose an initial platform for narrative monitoring. Options included Twitter/X, Facebook, Telegram, and VKontakte.

Decision

Focus exclusively on Telegram public channels as the primary data source for the initial release.

Alternatives Considered

Twitter/X API

Pros
  • Large English-language dataset
  • Well-documented API
Cons
  • Expensive API access after 2023 changes
  • Less relevant for Eastern European disinformation

Multi-platform from day one

Pros
  • Broader coverage
  • Cross-platform analysis possible
Cons
  • Higher complexity and slower development
  • Different APIs and data formats to handle

VKontakte

Pros
  • Large Russian-language user base
  • More structured data
Cons
  • API restrictions for foreign researchers
  • Smaller disinformation footprint compared to Telegram

Reasoning

Telegram has minimal content moderation, public channel APIs, clear forwarding chains for propagation tracking, and is the primary platform for information warfare in the post-Soviet space. Starting with a single platform allows us to build a robust pipeline before expanding.

All decisions