Spain Temporarily Suspends Telegram Following Media Companies’ Complaints

Spain’s High Court has ordered a temporary suspension of the popular messaging app, Telegram, effective from March 25, 2024.

This decision comes after several media companies, including Atresmedia, EGEDA, Mediaset, and Telefonica, lodged complaints alleging that Telegram facilitated the unauthorized sharing of their content. Judge Santiago Pedraz sanctioned the suspension to allow a thorough investigation into these claims.

Under this directive, it will be incumbent upon mobile service providers across Spain to implement the blockade against Telegram’s operations. This measure marks a significant development, considering Telegram’s status as the country’s fourth most utilized messaging platform.

The platform, celebrated for its robust encryption and privacy features, boasts a user base encompassing nearly 19% of the Spanish population.

FACUA, an NGO for the defense of consumer rights, warns of the enormous damages the judicial decision will cause for this messaging application’s millions of users and the companies, organizations, and public and private institutions that disseminate content lawfully through their channels on this platform.

“It’s as if they shut down the internet because there are websites that illegally host content protected by copyright, as if they cut off all television signals because there are networks that engage in piracy,” FACUA Activist Rubén Sánchez said.

Read more: Crypto Social Media Scams: How to Stay Safe

The suspension raises questions about the balance between copyright protection and digital freedoms. Telegram, which reported over 700 million monthly active users globally in 2023, is at a critical juncture. The company’s response to the suspension, as well as further commentary from the High Court, remains pending.

This development affects millions of Telegram users and sets a precedent for how digital platforms are regulated in Spain.

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