The two popular Hamas Telegram channels were inaccessible to users in India on popular Google and Apple-run platforms. Upon attempting to access the channel, Indian users were met with error messages on their devices, indicating the unavailability of the channel on Telegram apps downloaded from the Google Play Store. Indian iOS users have also faced similar restrictions, receiving the notification, “Unfortunately, this channel couldn’t be displayed on your device.”
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Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by various countries and international bodies, including the United States, the European Union, and Israel, has faced accusations of disseminating unverified information in the past.
In response to the blocking, Telegram issued a statement hinting at Google Play’s guidelines as the potential cause, notifying Android users that certain channels might become inaccessible due to these guidelines. Telegram recommended an alternative approach, suggesting that users could continue accessing the blocked channels through the direct version of Telegram for Android, which imposes minimal restrictions. This implies that users could resort to the desktop version of the app or the web version of Telegram to access the channel.
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While the channel’s accessibility remains restricted for Indian users, it remains uncertain whether similar limitations have been imposed in other countries. Founder of Telegram, Pavel Valeryevich Durov, emphasised the challenges of moderating war-related content, acknowledging the complexities involved in balancing information dissemination and potential harm.
Du Rove questioned the potential consequences of shutting down Hamas’ Telegram channel, highlighting the group’s use of the platform to warn civilians in Ashkelon about upcoming missile strikes. He suggested that removing the channel could increase the already dire situation, emphasizing the delicate balance between addressing harmful content and preserving critical communication channels.
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Following the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton urged social media platforms to remain vigilant against disinformation and violent posts related to the conflict.
