According to a new report from Bloomberg, European regulators are considering opening an investigation into messaging platform Telegram amid reports it is being used to spread harmful and illegal content.
This step should also determine whether the platform complies with the Digital Services Act (DSA) in terms of the number of users within the EU.
The European Commission has begun negotiations with Telegram, focusing on determining the number of users residing in the European Union, as the European Digital Markets Act requires “very large electronic platforms” to meet a series of additional and stringent requirements, and the law specifies these requirements. Platforms with over 45 million active users.
The main requirements of the law include providing users with clear information about content recommendations and the ability to opt out of recommendation systems, ensuring the protection of minors, preventing advertising directed at children, moderating content and taking measures to address those linked to illegal content. Risks. Content, misleading information and illegal content related to the content.
Telegram said it currently has 41 million active users in the EU and is therefore outside the scope of the additional requirements. However, the European Commission is investigating how Telegram counts the number of users.
In contrast, some officials called for strict requirements for Telegram, such as Estonian Prime Minister Kaia Kallas, who stressed that Telegram must meet the same obligations as Facebook, YouTube and other “very large online platforms.”
It should be noted that the European Digital Services Act (DSA) stipulates a series of strict penalties for platforms that do not comply with regulatory requirements. If large digital platforms are found to be violating the law, they face various penalties. Penalties, including up to 100,000 yuan to the violating company, fines of 6% of annual global sales, in addition to other penalties that may include restricting access to the platform, removing certain content, regulatory review of the platform’s policies and systems, etc.
The European Union said that the sanctions aim to enhance compliance with the law and allow digital platforms to provide a safe and transparent environment for users in European Union countries.
The Spanish judicial authorities recently imposed a temporary ban on the Telegram platform on the grounds that it contains pirated content, but lifted the ban after a violent reaction.