Telegram Banned in Spain for Non-Cooperation in Unauthorized Content Probe
Telegram Banned in Spain for Non-Cooperation in Unauthorized Content Probe
Telegram, the popular messaging app, has been banned in Spain following a case investigating the hosting of unauthorized content owned by media companies in the country. The Audiencia Nacional, one of Spain’s highest courts, has authorized this ban until Telegram cooperates by providing the required information to the court.
Operating Difficulties for Telegram in Spain
Telegram is currently facing operating difficulties in Spain as a result of the ban imposed by the Audiencia Nacional. The court has issued a temporary ban order for the messaging app due to its alleged involvement in a case related to the hosting and dissemination of unauthorized content. The country’s major media companies, including Mediaset, Atresmedia, Movistar, and EGEDA, claim that Telegram is being used as a platform for sharing copyrighted content without their permission, thus infringing on national copyright laws.
The judge in charge of the case, Santiago Pedraz, requested certain information from Telegram to advance the investigation. However, the company failed to respond, leading Pedraz to issue a temporary ban until Telegram collaborates fully in the probe.
Enforcement of the Ban
The ban on Telegram was scheduled to begin on Monday, March 25th. Some carriers have already started blocking access to the app over the weekend in compliance with the court order. While the ban has no specified expiration date, legal sources suggest that it may be temporary and could last only a few days.
