Those were the days when the Internet was considered a place of limitless freedom. Today, as the waves of digital regulatory rage sweep through platforms like Telegram, that idea seems more distant than ever. A debate recently broke out surrounding a rumor that a major attack on the Telegram platform would take place in August. An understandable concern? Or just digital scaremongering that thrives in the dark corners of the internet? Let's get to the bottom of the matter.
The sky is falling! – Claims about Telegram
The news of the impending disaster quickly spread across the Internet. “The enemy is preparing a massive attack on the Telegram platform, an important organ of the resistance!” or “An attack on Telegram is imminent ,” is the warning. Countless users received this message, coupled with a call to use proxies and VPNs to defend themselves against the expected attack. The content is (sic!)


“France has announced that it will close social channels and technically prevent communication via Telegram. A similar development can be observed throughout Europe and a date has already been set: August this year! It is foreseeable that access to Telegram, TikTok and a few other social media will be prevented by technical means in the coming weeks! There are ways to get around such bans, but it's important that you take care of them before this ban occurs! Please inform yourself about the “Proxy” and “VPN” technologies. With a proxy (just a setting in Telegram) you can bypass a country block that does not pass through the IP for Germany, for example. With VPN access you can directly join a (virtual) network abroad and are therefore not affected by the block, even if you are in Germany. To access a VPN you have to get an app and take out a small subscription (2-5 euros). Please take care of this matter as soon as possible. The measures against Telegram have been announced for August (i.e. next month)! You can also find many articles on the topic of proxy and VPN here on Telegram. In this case, simply enter “proxy” or “VPN” in the search and you will find hundreds of articles about it, including complete instructions on how the whole thing works. Please take care of this in time, otherwise you will no longer be able to access Telegram! Thank you for your attention."
The claim and possible countermeasures
The belief that an IP ban would bring Telegram to its knees seems to be deeply rooted. As a solution, the use of proxies is recommended to disguise the IP address and thus bypass a country block. A VPN, on the other hand, would make it possible to log into a network abroad and thus be safe from being blocked at home.
The resistance to Telegram
It's no secret that Telegram is a "problem case" in the eyes of some authorities. In Germany, for example, it is criticized that the platform hardly releases any user data and is not impressed by threats. In some cases there is even discussion about shutting down the platform. However, a similar development can be observed across Europe.
The dark side of the Digital Services Act (DSA)
The fear of Telegram being blocked does not seem unfounded, as there are concrete signs of increased regulatory efforts in the digital space. One of the biggest bugbears is the Digital Services Act (DSA), which is incorrectly associated with censorship measures.
The DSA – a tool of censorship?
Admittedly, at first glance, the DSA looks like a massive regulatory tool that could threaten freedom of expression. However, this fear is largely unfounded. Rather, it is intended to ensure that EU citizens can continue to express their opinions freely.
The true purpose of the DSA
The DSA puts the user at the center of the digital world. The law stipulates that users have the right to know why certain content and products are recommended to them. At the same time, they should be protected from targeted advertising and the misuse of their sensitive data. In this respect, the DSA is more of a regulation to protect users than a censorship measure.
| Claims | Fact check |
|---|---|
| “On August 25th, the EU’s Digital Services Act will end freedom of expression on all major internet platforms.” | Incorrect . The Digital Services Act does not come into force on August 25 and does not restrict freedom of expression on internet platforms. |
| “The EU’s Digital Services Act introduces comprehensive censorship on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.” | Incorrect . The Digital Services Act aims to strengthen user rights and control the power of big tech companies, but does not introduce censorship. |
| “The freedom to express one’s own opinion is restricted by the Digital Services Act.” | Incorrect . The principle of freedom of expression remains unaffected in the EU, including in the digital space. The Digital Services Act continues to guarantee the right to express one's opinion online. |
| “With the Digital Services Act, internet platforms must remove illegal content and can block accounts.” | Correct . The DSA stipulates that platforms can quickly remove illegal content and block accounts that distribute such content. |
| “The Digital Services Act will come into force on August 25, 2023.” | Incorrect . The DSA came into force on November 16, 2022 and will apply in all EU countries from February 17, 2024. August 25, 2023 refers to a different regulation. |
| “The Digital Services Act protects users from targeted advertising and the misuse of their sensitive data.” | Correct . The DSA puts user interests first and protects users, among other things, from targeted advertising and the misuse of their sensitive data. |
Conclusion: It's not about censorship, but about control
After carefully researching the facts, we can conclude that the allegations of an “attack” on Telegram and the associated censorship by the DSA are largely unfounded. Rather, these are attempts to regulate large technology companies while strengthening the rights of users.
So the main problem seems to be not censorship, but control. As more users turn to platforms like Telegram and the control of traditional media and government agencies diminishes, it is not surprising that they are trying to restore the status quo.
No matter how you look at it, the digital landscape is changing rapidly and it is essential that we as users stay informed so as not to be left in the dark. So: keep your eyes open in the digital space!
Also read: EU: new law against fake news, online hate and other illegal content
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

