In response to complaints from Spanish media companies regarding copyright infringement, Telegram, the messaging app, has been temporarily suspended in Spain by order of Judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audencia Nacional, a high court. The complaint alleges that Telegram users were uploading copyrighted content without permission, prompting the court to issue the suspension.
The order follows a lack of cooperation from officials in the Virgin Islands, where Telegram is registered, in responding to a court request from July 2023 to identify users behind the accounts uploading pirated content. With approximately 8.5 million users in Spain, the suspension affects about 18% of the population, raising concerns among consumer advocacy groups about the impact on millions of users.
Telegram’s popularity stems from its end-to-end encryption and features like open groups and broadcast channels, which enable users to publish various files publicly. However, this has led to issues with extremist groups freely using the app, prompting action from authorities in different countries, including Brazil, which previously blocked Telegram for non-cooperation in investigations against neo-Nazi groups.
While the suspension of Telegram in Spain has sparked debate over its proportionality and potential repercussions, challenges remain in enforcing the ban effectively, given the availability of VPNs and Telegram’s proxy service, allowing users to circumvent restrictions.
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