Telegram, a global messaging giant, has recently faced a significant operational hurdle in Spain. The Audiencia Nacional, one of Spain’s highest courts, has issued a temporary ban on the messaging app. The ban is a result of Telegram’s involvement in a case related to the hosting of unauthorized content.
The country’s four major media companies – Mediaset, Atresmedia, Movistar, and Egeda, have accused Telegram of being used as a platform for hosting and disseminating content generated by them without authorization. This alleged activity infringes on national copyright laws.
Santiago Pedraz, the judge presiding over the case, requested specific information from Telegram to further the investigation. However, the company remained unresponsive. As a result, Pedraz issued a temporary ban on Telegram until the company cooperates in the probe.
Breaking :
The use of the messaging application Telegram in Spain will be temporarily suspended as of Monday, following a request from media companies.
The order was issued by judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audencia Nacional, a high court which handles sensitive cases.
Media… pic.twitter.com/FRflWnhXMM
— Keira Connnolly (@keira_con) March 25, 2024
The ban, which affects approximately 8 million users in Spain (18% of the national population), was slated to begin on Monday, March 25. Some carriers had already started blocking access to the app over the weekend in compliance with the court order. While the ban currently has no set expiration date, legal sources suggest that it could be temporary and last only a few days.
The ban has sparked a wave of disagreement among Spanish Telegram users. Many have taken to social media to express their discontent, vowing to use alternative methods to continue accessing the platform despite the ban.
This is not the first time Telegram has faced such measures. In April, it was temporarily banned in Brazil due to its lack of cooperation in a national campaign against school violence. Similarly, in 2018, Russian courts ordered the blocking of access to the messaging app after it failed to provide the keys needed to decrypt users’ messages as part of an investigation into international terrorist groups.
In conclusion, the ban on Telegram in Spain underscores the ongoing global debate about the balance between user privacy, freedom of expression, and the enforcement of national laws on digital platforms.
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