Telegram blocks Hamas channels on Android

Telegram Blocking the communication and distribution channels of the terrorist organization HamasSince the beginning of October, the conflict with the state of Israel in the Gaza Strip region has intensified.

According to CNBCThe measure applies only to devices with the Android operating system and includes two channels used by the group to issue official statements, as well as to send political propaganda to users.

On iOS devices, both continue to work normally They are not the only group used by Hamas; for example, another channel that remains on air has more than 1.6 million subscribers.

The blocking may have occurred because the shared content violated Play Store policies. According to Google, violent and terrorism-related content is not allowed.

What does Telegram say?

Today, Telegram is one of the platforms most used by Palestinian groups both to spread information about the situation in the region and to receive messages from the terrorist group.

According to the company’s CEO, Pavel Durov, the decision not to remove war-related content is aimed at “saving lives”, as it could, for example, contain details about shelter or potentially dangerous places.

“It is always tempting to act on emotional impulses. But these complex situations require further evaluation, and differences between social platforms also need to be taken into account,” the manager said in an official note. He also rejected the idea that Telegram was being used to amplify propaganda and that users would only be able to access the content they signed up to receive.

Other social networks, such as X (formerly Twitter), have been criticized for their lack of moderation and even recommending profiles that spread disinformation about the conflict.