Spain’s High Court has issued an order for the temporary suspension of messaging app Telegram’s services within the country, following complaints from media companies alleging unauthorized content uploads by users, a court source disclosed.
Effective Monday, the use of Telegram in Spain will be halted temporarily, in response to a petition lodged by media giants including Atresmedia, EGEDA, Mediaset, and Telefonica.
Judge Santiago Pedraz has sanctioned the blocking of Telegram’s services in Spain pending further investigation into the claims. Mobile phone service providers have been tasked with implementing the suspension, as per the directives of the court.
Despite attempts to reach out for comment, Telegram has not yet responded to requests. Similarly, a spokesperson for the High Court has remained unavailable for comment.
According to data from the competition watchdog CNMC, Telegram ranks as the fourth most widely used messaging service in Spain. Nearly 19% of Spaniards surveyed by CNMC reported using Telegram.
Telegram itself reports a substantial user base, boasting more than 700 million monthly active users globally as of 2023.
The suspension of Telegram’s services in Spain marks a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding digital content regulation and copyright infringement. The outcome of the investigation initiated by the High Court will likely have implications not only for Telegram but also for other social media platforms and messaging services operating in Spain.
