Spain’s National High Court Judge Santiago Pedraz ordered on Monday a temporary suspension of his own previous order to ban the social media app Telegram in Spain.
Pedraz said that he issued the suspension pending a report from the General Information Commissioner’s Office on the instant messaging platform requesting information about Telegram’s characteristics and the impacts a ban would have on users. Telegram is reported to have a total of 8 million users in Spain out of a total population of 47 million.
However, Pedraz cited that the suspension of the ban was not about concerns with freedom of expression or information as protected by the Spanish Constitution or the European Convention of Human Rights but rather with concerns surrounding whether the measure was proportional. The ruling has been attacked on social media as a violation of the freedom of expression.
Pedraz claims that the underlying ruling banning Telegram remains legitimate, claiming Article 13.2 of the Criminal Procedure Law allows for the provisional removal of illicit content or interruption of services offered while the investigation is ongoing. Pedraz has claimed “that it is known that said platform is also used for criminal activities” due to the enhanced privacy offerings provided by the platform.
Telegram is known for not cooperating with public authorities, making it a tool popular with criminals and dissidents. Several countries, including China, Thailand, Pakistan and Cuba, have blocked it.
FAQs
A Spanish court has reversed course and halted a controversial order to temporarily suspend the Telegram messaging app nationwide. Media firms had complained of intellectual property rights violations. Judge Santiago Pedraz of Spain's High Court on Monday halted his own order to suspend the Telegram messaging app.
Did the court suspend its previous order to block Telegram in Spain? ›
Telegram has about 900 million active users. A Spanish court suspended an order it issued earlier to block instant messaging service Telegram in the country as part of an investigation on users illegally sharing TV and video content.
What happened to Telegram in Spain? ›
Telegram is the subject of a legal dispute in Spain. Spanish media firms — including Mediaset, Atresmedia and Movistar Plus — filed a lawsuit against the instant messaging app for its alleged unauthorized use of copyright-protected audiovisual content and requested that it be suspended as a precautionary measure.
Which countries blocked Telegram? ›
The first to deactivate Telegram was China where it was "switched off" in 2015 in the face of the messages opposing the communist regime that were disseminated through it. Thailand, Pakistan, Iran, and Cuba have also banned it for similar reasons.
Is Telegram ban permanent? ›
These can range from a temporary or permanent ban from the specific channel or bot to a complete account ban, depending on the severity of the violation. It's important to remember that Telegram is a community, and every user has a role to play in maintaining a safe and respectful environment.
Why does Spain ban Telegram? ›
The ruling was made in response to a complaint by Atresmedia, EGEDA, Mediaset, and Telefonica, some of the country's most prominent media companies, that the privacy-focused messaging app is being used to distribute copyrighted content that belongs to them.
Which country owns Telegram? ›
Recent News. Telegram, cloud-based messaging app owned by Russian entrepreneurs Pavel and Nikolai Durov. Telegram users can exchange text messages, hold voice calls, share files, join groups of up to 200,000 members, and subscribe to public broadcast channels.
Is Telegram allowed in the USA? ›
Telegram is legal in the USA and is widely used by individuals, businesses, and organizations for communication and collaboration. However, like any communication tool, there are regulations and laws that govern its use.
Which country is mostly using Telegram? ›
As of March 2024, Telegram has more than 900 million monthly active users, with India leading in the number of users.
Can Telegram be traced? ›
Take a look at the list of Telegram's secret chat benefits that help to enhance your privacy and security: Uses end-to-end encryption. Leaves no trace on Telegram's servers.
Law Enforcement Authorities. If Telegram receives a court order that confirms you're a terror suspect, we may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities.
Can a banned Telegram account be recovered? ›
To unban a Telegram number, users must reach out to the Telegram support team. This involves providing a detailed explanation of any misunderstanding or mistake and formally requesting to unban telegram account.
Can you use Telegram in Spain? ›
On Friday, March 22nd, one of Spain's High Court judges ruled out a temporary ban on the messaging platform Telegram. Today, however, the same judge suspended the order just as it was about to be enforced. The U-turn comes amid growing criticism among experts in and outside the country.
Is Telegram safer than WhatsApp? ›
Both apps have business-specific features and integrations. WhatsApp collects basic data, offers end-to-end encryption, and allows the deletion of messages within a limited time frame. In contrast, Telegram lacks default end-to-end encryption but offers self-destructing messages and secret chats for enhanced privacy.
How to use Telegram without getting banned? ›
How to avoid a ban
- Don't spam users and send customers what they will definitely be interested in. In short, personalize offers.
- Write to the phone number no more than once every 3 minutes. So your activity will not seem suspicious.
- Write first by username — Telegram does not ban for this.
The rationale behind this decision was a request made by media companies including Atresmedia, EGEDA, Mediaset and Telefónica who argued that Telegram was being used to share copyrighted content. On 25 March 2024, Pedraz revoked his previous decision as it would turn out to be "excessive and not proportionate".
Can I use Telegram in Spain? ›
A Spanish court has reversed course and halted a controversial order to temporarily suspend the Telegram messaging app nationwide.
When was the Telegram stopped? ›
In the UK telegram delivery ceased in 2008, while in the United States Western Union's dwindling service was terminated on 27 Jan 2006.
Why do they block Telegram account? ›
Your Telegram account or phone number may be banned for various reasons, including repeated account suspensions, spamming in groups, using unauthorized Telegram versions, or registering excessive numbers from a single IP or device.
