Telegram Facing Greater Scrutiny from Brussels
EU Commission investigating whether the messaging app understated user numbers to avoid stricter rules
EU Commission investigating whether the messaging app understated user numbers to avoid stricter rules
The billionaire has been indicted on six charges and is forbidden to leave France.
French authorities have until Thursday to decide whether to press formal charges.
Durov’s lawyer called the French charges against his client “absolutely ridiculous.”
Belgian officials have previously been highly critical of the messaging platform.
A copyright violations dispute has turned into a standoff between the social media company and the courts.
The documents had been floating around on messaging channels popular with gamers for several weeks, or even months, before making it to Telegram and catching the attention of the media.
During a weekend interview, Thomas Haldenwang, the president of Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, called anti-lockdown protesters, vaccine skeptics, and so-called ‘lateral thinkers,’ “enemies of the state” who “fundamentally reject the democratic state.”
If it decides to shut down Telegram, Germany will join countries like China, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, and Cuba who’ve also banned the application in the past.
“What is spread on Telegram is disgusting, indecent, and criminal,” Federal Justice Minister Buschmann said. “My wish is that we do not take a special German path, but rather create a common European legal framework that enables us to take action against hatred and agitation on the Internet.”
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