German news outlet Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that Telegram blocked 64 channels in recent days under “tremendous pressure” from the German government. Among the blocked channels was Attila Hildmann, a German far-right nationalist whom Süddeutsche Zeitung called an anti-Semitic and a “conspiracy thinker”.
Telegram is under pressure to shut down the hate-mongering accounts, the report said. This pressure comes from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Criminal Police. Apparently, the government and Telegram will continue to work closely on the matter, with Telegram CEO Pavel Durov even attending a meeting in person to discuss the matter.
Commenting on the matter, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said: “On Telegram we are constantly experiencing a new wave of hatred and threats against the people and our democracy. We acted swiftly and in unison. Telegram must no longer be Accelerator for right-wing extremists, conspiracy theorists and other instigators. Death threats and other dangerous hate mail must be removed, in addition to clear criminal consequences. The Federal Criminal Police has significantly stepped up its investigations. From one day, I put pressure on Telegram to cooperate. (Now) that pressure is working.”
According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, the channel run by Attila Hildmann has been inaccessible since Tuesday, meaning it is likely that other channels will also become inaccessible during that time.