riots Archives

AppWizard

March 9, 2025

Messaging app Telegram blocked in Russia’s Dagestan and Chechnya regions

The messaging app Telegram has been blocked in Russia's Dagestan and Chechnya regions due to security concerns, as announced by Dagestan's digital development minister, Yuri Gamzatov. The decision followed recommendations from law enforcement agencies, particularly in response to unrest at Makhachkala airport earlier this year. Since early 2024, users in parts of the North Caucasus have faced service disruptions on Telegram, and Gamzatov suggested considering the VK messenger as an alternative. The unrest at Makhachkala airport on October 29, 2023, was caused by a flight arrival from Israel, leading to mass riots that resulted in over 24 million rubles in damages and injuries to 23 officials.

AppWizard

March 8, 2025

Two Russian regions block Telegram app over security fears

Authorities in Dagestan and Chechnya have blocked the Telegram messenger service due to concerns about its misuse by adversarial elements. This decision was announced by Yuri Gamzatov, Dagestan's digital development minister, following riots at Makhachkala airport linked to an anti-Israel demonstration in October 2023, which was fueled by information spread on Telegram. The unrest led to multiple prosecutions, but no injuries were reported. Telegram has condemned the violence and plans to block channels that promoted antisemitic content. Founded by Pavel Durov, Telegram has nearly 1 billion users and has faced previous challenges, including a failed ban in 2018. Gamzatov suggested that the ban could be lifted in the future, advising users to consider alternative messaging platforms during the restriction.

AppWizard

September 20, 2024

Facebook, Instagram & WhatsApp Ban Russian State Media

Meta has announced a global ban on several Russian state-controlled media outlets, including the TV network RT and the media group Rossiya Segodnya, across its platforms Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. The ban is a response to concerns about deceptive practices employed by these media networks to influence public opinion. This decision follows sanctions imposed on RT by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who accused the network of facilitating disinformation. Rossiya Segodnya and RT are Kremlin-backed organizations that present themselves as independent but share the same editor-in-chief. Both have faced bans in various countries for disseminating disinformation and promoting Russian propaganda. Meta has a history of implementing similar bans, including the suspension of Donald Trump's account in 2021 and the banning of Alex Jones for violating community standards.

AppWizard

August 26, 2024

What to know about Telegram, the messaging app whose CEO was arrested over the weekend | CNN Business

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, was detained at Bourget Airport in Paris on a warrant related to allegations of insufficient moderation on the messaging service, facing charges linked to fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, and child sexual exploitation content. The Paris prosecutor's office is conducting a comprehensive investigation into these activities, with a total of 12 charges dating back to July 8. Telegram has over 950 million users and is known for its encryption features, which provide privacy but also attract illicit activities. Durov previously refused to comply with Russian government demands for user data, leading to his departure from Russia and advocacy for digital privacy. Telegram has taken recent steps to restrict access to channels linked to Hamas and remove violent content.

AppWizard

August 9, 2024

UK riots: How Telegram messaging app was used by extremists to stir trouble?

The Telegram messaging app, launched in 2013, has become one of the most downloaded applications worldwide. Its private chat feature allows for open dialogue but has also led to the spread of misinformation due to lenient content moderation. Telegram has been implicated in inciting anti-immigrant riots in the UK, prompting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to announce plans to regulate social media platforms linked to the unrest. Following the riots, six channels that promoted anti-Muslim and anti-migrant content were removed from the platform. Telegram's moderators stated they were monitoring and removing channels or posts with calls to violence.