In response to a complaint filed by Mediaset, Atresmedia, and Movistar Plus, Judge Santiago Pedraz has ordered the shutdown of Telegram instant messaging application in Spain. However, the telecommunications operators have not yet received formal communication from the court regarding this order.
The closure of Telegram was ordered as a precautionary measure due to the unauthorized use of copyrighted audiovisual content by some users. The investigation into this matter has been extended for six months until September 29th.
Since Telegram refused to provide requested information to the court, Judge Pedraz instructed telecommunications operators to block the application in Spain. The operators are expected to comply with this order within three hours of receiving formal communication, which is anticipated to happen on Monday.
However, the effectiveness of shutting down Telegram for millions of users is uncertain due to technological tools like proxies that can circumvent such restrictions. Previous cases, such as the one involving Uber, show that global technological platforms often resist such orders but may eventually comply with court mandates.
