Telegram is Said to Have Blocked 64 of Its Channels in Germany

Messenger service Telegram, which has proved fashionable with far-right teams and other people against COVID-related restrictions, has blocked 64 of its channels in Germany, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday, with out giving a supply for the knowledge. The transfer got here after Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office despatched shutdown requests to the messenger service, the paper stated.

Telegram has been blamed in Germany for fuelling an more and more virulent subculture of anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists who alternate information about supposed risks and organize protests which have spilled over into violence.

The newspaper stated the channels affected included that of Attila Hildmann, a vegan movie star chef who spreads conspiracy theories in regards to the coronavirus to greater than 100,000 followers on the messaging service.

Germany’s Interior Ministry, which stated final week it had held constructive talks with Telegram representatives, was not instantly accessible for touch upon the report. Telegram didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The Telegram app has turn out to be more and more fashionable with activists and protesters, particularly as platforms corresponding to Facebook turn out to be extra attentive to authorities stress to crack down on these spreading lies, threats or conspiracy theories.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had stated in remarks revealed final month that Germany might shut down Telegram and that it was discussing with its companions within the European Union how one can regulate the messenger service.

© Thomson Reuters 2021