More pressure on Telegram: Faeser speaks plain language

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Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wants to take decisive action against illegal content on the popular WhatsApp alternative Telegram. A ban on the entire app is not an option. Faeser now makes it clear which means will be chosen instead.

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Update from January 27, 2022: It is not a rowing back, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser remains hard on Telegram. Nevertheless, she is now making it clear: A ban on the Telegram app is not up for debate. “No, of course it’s not my goal to switch off Telegram. The main thing for me was to increase the pressure“Faeser explained in an interview with Hessischer Rundfunk (source: hr-info). It’s not about the end of Telegram, especially not about content in private chats. On the other hand, illegal content such as calls for acts of violence and hatred in public chat rooms should not be accepted. The last solution here is to switch off such chat rooms.

Original item:

Ban as a last resort: Telegram under the magnifying glass

“Don’t shoot the messenger” is an English idiom that is also not unknown in this country. At least with regard to digital messenger services, it apparently does not apply. Specifically the popular one, though questionable WhatsApp alternative Telegram is always under criticism.

In Germany it is now reaching a new peak: Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser calls for the controversial app to be banned – if only as a last resort. “To say that in the end we will switch off the service – that would be a serious evil for every provider,” says Faeser (source: Spiegel).

The app, which is not only used, but also by extremists and lateral thinkers, must be in Germany comply with German law. Whether address lists shared by politicians and scientists, threatened with death in the worst case or simply “just” a lot of hate posts – these are not isolated cases at Telegram.

Why Telegram can stay relaxed

However, a ban on the entire app in Germany would hardly be enforceable – and according to Faeser it should only be the very last step being. The Interior Minister prefers a common European approach. At best, Telegram could be persuaded to take action against illegal content.

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However, that is unlikely, after all, the allegations against the messenger are not new. The ban as a last resort also harbors many pitfalls: on the one hand, the measure would not only meet the users who break the law with their Telegram messages – such a step would be difficult to justify legally.

Then there is the technical challenge: The Telegram servers are distributed around the world. The company is currently based in Dubai after withdrawing from Russia – also due to attempts to scrap the app. Even after a possible ban in Germany, it would be quite feasible for German users to keep Telegram in a roundabout way.

Other WhatsApp alternatives besides Telegram:

Google and Apple show how it’s done

A more promising approach might be to coordinate with Apple and Google. Because Telegram is not only less secure than many users believe, the app operators have already deleted content. As the colleagues from Netzpolitik.org suspect, this could be due to pressure from tech companies. Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store have regulations for applications that are offered there. This also includes dealing with illegal content.

The probability that Germany will ban Telegram single-handedly is low. Users must therefore don’t worry for now whether they can continue to use the messenger. However, a merger of the EU with Google and Apple could certainly have a major impact on Telegram. To do this, however, one would first have to agree among themselves.



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