Spanish court ruling on Telegram: Suspended!

The Spanish National Court has ruled to suspend the use of Telegram.

National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz evaluated the complaint filed by television companies Mediaset, Atresmedia, and Movistar Plus.

Acknowledging the copyright-related shortcomings, Judge Pedraz instructed telecommunications operators operating in Spain to suspend access to the Telegram application as soon as possible.

Judge Pedraz stated that although the investigation into the allegations is ongoing, he issued a precautionary measure to halt the use of Telegram—which he accused of "failing to cooperate and not allowing the reporting of certain technical data"—deeming the decision "necessary, appropriate, and proportionate."

As of the time of writing, the use of the Telegram application continues in Spain, but it is expected to be shut down shortly.

On the other hand, the decision made by National Court Judge Pedraz has drawn criticism from some quarters.

The consumer association Facua argued that the decision, which it described as "disproportionate," would cause significant harm to companies, organizations, and public and private institutions that disseminate content to millions of users.

Ione Belarra, leader of the left-wing opposition party Podemos in Spain, also stated in a post on her social media account, "It is an unfair, censorious, and completely disproportionate measure that threatens freedoms."

Telegram, founded by Russian businessmen Nikolai and Pavel Durov, was launched as an alternative to WhatsApp and has been operating since 2013.