The state news agency IRNA reported the blocking of at least 50 Iranian 'immoral' channels on Telegram, aimed at 'purifying' this mobile communication network in Iran. IRNA reported on Sunday, April 15, that Telegram officials blocked 50 active Iranian channels on Friday and Saturday and gave them a 'purification opportunity.' According to this state news agency, channels that 'primarily engage in social or entertainment activities' had 'immoral advertisements' and 'will be allowed to operate again if purified.' IRNA added that 'Telegram's yellow card is only given once, and if repeated and reported again by users, various channels will be permanently blocked.' The 'Telegram' network has nearly 20 million Iranian users, and officials from the judiciary in Iran have been making extensive efforts to block this social network for over two years, which has not yet been successful. The government of Hassan Rouhani, known as one of the opponents of blocking 'Telegram' in Iran, has only called for filtering 'immoral' channels on this communication network. Last year, various reports emerged regarding requests from Iranian government officials to Telegram officials to filter 'immoral' channels, which the network's officials stated they did not agree to. In April of last year, Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, stated that he rejected Iran's request for cooperation in 'spying on the citizens' of the country. About five months later, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran announced that Telegram would 'soon' establish some of its servers inside Iran after 'negotiations.' At that time, the campaign reported that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology had requested Telegram to 'create restrictions' on Iranian users' access to 'some applications' of this messaging app. Two months after the campaign's announcement, Saeed Montazerolmahdi, the spokesman for Iran's police, announced that 20 Telegram channels with 'immoral content' had been blocked and their managers arrested.
IRNA: Telegram Filters 50 Iranian 'Immoral' Channels
Telegram has blocked 50 Iranian channels deemed 'immoral' as part of efforts to purify the platform in Iran. The Iranian judiciary has been trying to restrict Telegram for over two years without success, while the Rouhani government only seeks to filter specific channels. This ongoing conflict highlights the tension between government control and digital freedom in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Telegram blocked 50 Iranian channels deemed 'immoral' by Iranian authorities, following ongoing pressure from the judiciary. These channels can resume operations if they comply with content guidelines.
- Telegram has nearly 20 million users in Iran.
- Iranian judiciary has been attempting to restrict Telegram for over two years.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Telegram is a popular messaging app in Iran, often used for both personal communication and political activism. The Iranian government has a history of attempting to control digital platforms to maintain social and political order.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%