Telegram: VPN skyrockets in Brazil after app ban

The temporary ban of Telegram in Brazil following non-compliance with a court order has prompted users of the messaging app to seek virtual private networks, VPNs. According to Surfshark, Google searches for both app and network increased together.

The terms “Telegram” and “VPN” appeared on Google Trends. The volume skyrocketed after the announcement of the ban by Brazilian justice, and they began to stand out even before the messenger was suspended.

VPN search volume nearly quadrupled compared to the seven-day average. Already Telegram search has increased more than five times. Check out the table:

What happened to Telegram?

Telegram’s suspension in Brazil was ordered by Judge Wellington Lopes da Silva of the Espírito Santo Federal Court this Wednesday (26). The company did not provide information on members of neo-Nazi groups until 7pm yesterday, fined R$1 million per day per delay and “only partially complied with the court order”.

Federal Police requested data on participants and administrators of two Telegram groups with anti-Semitic content. youIn November 2022, a 16-year-old forum member killed four people in an attack on two schools in Aracruz (ES)..

“By failing to comply with the court’s decision, it simply refused to provide the data requested under the general allegation that ‘the group exists’. [de conteúdo antissemita] already deleted’. “Therefore, sanctions were imposed (…) for Telegram’s failure to fully comply with the decisions made by the court,” the judge said.

This is not the first suspension of the messenger in Brazil. A year ago, Federal Supreme Court (STF) Minister Alexandre de Moraes ordered that Telegram be banned for failing to take action against the spread of false information.