Germany has announced Monday that it will fine EUR 5.125 million (about Rs. 41 crore) against Telegram''s messaging app operators who fail to comply with German laws.
Telegram FZ-LLC hasn''t established a legal way for reporting illegal content or naming a corporation in Germany to receive official communication, according to the Federal Office of Justice. Both laws are required under German laws that regulate large online platforms.
Despite the support of authorities in the United Arab Emirates, German officials claimed they have failed to provide papers to Telegram.
According to the Federal Office of Justice, a German-based legal company has stated that it represents Telegram, but this wasn''t enough to prevent fines being imposed.
Germany''s federal police announced that the app is becoming a tool for radicalization, which might be used by some to target politicians, scientists, and doctors for their roles in combating the coronavirus epidemic.
According to Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, the operators of messaging services and social networks have a special obligation for avoiding arousal of hatred and violence on their platforms. These legal obligations and this responsibility cannot be avoided by striving to be unreachable.
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The fine may be applied to the public.
Telegram has previously reported that it was fined for refusing to delete content that allegedly uncovered military gear. The channels also reportedly uncovered "unreliable data" about Russia''s advances in its invasion of Ukraine which started earlier this year.