Telegram/ShutterStock
Starting tomorrow (Monday), the Telegram instant messaging application will not be available for use in Spain, as determined by the country's Supreme Court.
The decision was made following complaints from many media companies, including Telefonica, Atresmedia, EGEDA and Mediaset, who claimed that Telegram allows the illegal distribution of copyrighted content.
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According to a court source, the responsibility for blocking Telegram's services will lie with the cell phone providers.
The complaint against Telegram was already filed in July 2023, the court requested Telegram to receive information about the accounts involved, but the company has not cooperated so far.
According to the judge, this measure is intended to protect copyright and prevent illegal distribution of content in the country.
The complaint against Telegram was filed already in July 2023/ShutterStock
The decision to block Telegram caused great outrage among many users, who number about 19% of the population in Spain.
Consumer organizations, such as Facua, claim that the block causes "huge damage" to millions of innocent users, and that it is a disproportionate violation of freedom of expression.
According to them, blanket blocking of an entire platform is not an adequate solution, "and more effective ways must be found to deal with copyright infringement".
Meanwhile, Telegram, which is known for its strict privacy policy, has yet to officially comment on the court's decision.
The company may take legal action to challenge the block, or try to cooperate with the Spanish authorities in order to resolve the issue.
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