Imminent Blocking of Telegram in Spain Following a Decision by the Audiencia Nacional!

The digital landscape in Spain is about to undergo a major shift with the recent announcement of the blocking of Telegram, one of the world’s most popular messaging apps. This drastic measure has been ordered by the Audiencia Nacional following a complaint filed by Spanish media giants such as Mediaset España, Antena 3, Movistar Plus, and EGEDA. These companies accuse Telegram of facilitating the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content.

The decision to block Telegram comes after the application’s administrators failed to respond to the allegations against them. With approximately 800 million active monthly users globally, this blockade in Spain has the potential to impact a large portion of the population who rely on Telegram for communication, information sharing, and media distribution.

Why is Telegram Being Blocked?

The primary reason for this blockage is the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content via Telegram’s platform. The plaintiffs claim that the application has hosted and facilitated access to such content without the consent of the rights holders, thereby violating intellectual property laws.

When Will the Block Take Effect?

Judge Santiago Pedraz issued the blocking order after Telegram failed to respond to the allegations. While the messaging service remains active at the time of the announcement, it could be blocked at any moment—most likely over the coming weekend, once telecom operators implement the decision.

List of Solutions to Access Telegram Despite the Block:

Using a VPN

One of the most effective methods to bypass the Telegram block in Spain is using a VPN. By masking your IP address and connecting to the internet through a server located in another country where Telegram remains accessible, you can continue using the app as usual.

MTProto Proxy Bot

Telegram provides an MTProto proxy system specifically designed for its platform. The bot @ProxyMTProto on Telegram itself offers proxy addresses that users can add to their Telegram settings to bypass restrictions.

Setting Up Your Own MTProto Proxy

For those looking for a more customized solution, it’s possible to create and host your own MTProto proxy. The official MTProxy GitHub repository provides a complete guide on configuring this type of proxy, offering a robust alternative to maintaining access to Telegram.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the imminent blocking of Telegram in Spain highlights the significant challenges faced by Spanish users who rely on this platform for their daily communications. While solutions such as using VPNs and MTProto proxies exist to bypass these restrictions, this situation raises a broader question about the understanding and approach of policymakers and legislators towards digital regulations.

In my opinion, this decision underscores a glaring lack of digital literacy among political and legal authorities. Targeting Telegram as the root cause of copyright issues ignores the fact that similar violations could just as easily occur on other messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal, or Threema. The reality is that these platforms are merely tools—it is the specific use of these tools that may infringe copyright laws.

This decision appears nonsensical, revealing a lack of expertise and comprehension of the digital world by policymakers. Rather than addressing the root problem—namely, the illegal use of copyrighted content—it penalizes a widely used communication tool known for its reliability and advanced features. This raises concerns not only about the effectiveness of such measures but also about the freedom of access to information and communication in our society.

It remains crucial to defend our right to free and open communication. As a digital community, it is our responsibility to promote a deeper understanding of digital technologies among legislators to prevent poorly adapted responses to complex challenges.

Enjoy 😎

AlexIn Tech