Attila Hildmann is also affected: Telegram blocks dozens of channels – the government wants to take further action
Created: 02/11/2022, 18:59
By: Momir Takac
Telegram is criticized as a pool for rights, corona deniers and conspiracy theorists and is a thorn in the side of politics.
Now the government has scored a success against the messenger.
Berlin – The messenger service Telegram has long been criticized.
People use the medium to spread conspiracy theories and fantasies of a coup, lateral thinkers, corona deniers and right-wingers use it for hate speech.
Telegram gives in and blocks 64 channels
Politicians have been working for a long time to restrict Telegram.
Those responsible for the messenger have repeatedly been accused by the federal government of doing too little against the activities.
But now Telegram apparently gave in.
The company blocked a total of 64 channels in the past few days, according to several media outlets.
Among them should also be channels of the anti-Semite and conspiracy theorist Attila Hildmann.
As the
Sueddeutsche
now reports, the ban is said to have taken place under pressure from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).
Telegram: Users in Germany no longer have access to Attila Hildmann's channels
Since Tuesday, users in Germany should no longer be able to access Hildmann's channels.
Anyone attempting to access it will receive a message that the channel is unavailable due to "violations of local laws."
Hildmann has been wanted by arrest warrant since February 2021.
He is said to have gone into hiding in Turkey.
For the federal government, the deletion is undoubtedly a long-awaited success.
But apparently that's not enough for her.
“Telegram must no longer be an accelerator for right-wing extremists, conspiracy ideologues and other agitators.
Death threats and other dangerous hate mail must be deleted and have clear criminal consequences," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
.
Telegram wants to remain “in close contact” with the federal government
The SPD politician wants to continue to act "quickly and consistently" against "ever new waves of hatred and threats against people and against our democracy".
“From day one in office, I put significant pressure on to get Telegram to cooperate.
This pressure works,” Faeser continued.
In a conversation, Telegram is said to have promised the federal government further cooperation.
So it was agreed to "continue to stay in close contact".
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