Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The short message service Telegram has blocked channels used by the Hamas group. However, this blocking is specifically for Android cellphone users.
The reason is, channels related to Hamas are considered to have violated Google’s application store guidelines, quoted from CNBC International, Thursday (26/10/2023).
Two Telegram channels related to Hamas, namely hamas_com and al-Qassam brigades, can no longer be accessed by Android users. However, other channels, such as Gaza Now, are still available.
Telegram blamed the block on guidelines imposed by Google’s app store, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Users reportedly cannot see Hamas-related accounts on the Telegram application downloaded from the Google Play Store. This indicates that the blocking does not apply to the application when downloaded from a different source, or using another operating system.
A Google spokesperson who did not want to be named confirmed the news about the blocking of Hamas channels on Telegram. The reason is, Google said it prohibits “terrorism-related” content in the application.
Previously, Hamas-related content had been blocked on Meta and X (formerly Twitter). Telegram itself has not taken similar steps so far.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said he did not want to block channels used by Hamas because they were useful for people to get updates regarding the war.
He also defended Hamas, saying that the militant group had told civilians to evacuate the conflict area before launching attacks.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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