Germany’s Far Right Is in a Panic Over Telegram

Telegram founder Pavel Durov's arrest is a shot across the bow for the German far-right movement.

A warning that was viewed more than 85,000 times started circulating among Germany ’s far right after the arrest of the founder and CEO of the app.

The message came from Kim Dotcom , the embattled German founder of the now-defunct digital piracy website Megaupload .

Telegram has become indispensable to the far right in Germany .

Despite the hand-wringing, most extremism experts don’t expect them to go anywhere.

While Telegram may call itself a “messaging app with a focus on speed and security,” it often functions more like a platform.

Users can create massive multiadmin groups with up to 200,000 members.

France 's move could embolden other countries to take similar steps against Durov .

Brazil 's Supreme Court tried to shut down the app twice, first for failing to take down a prominent user spreading fake news and again in 2023 .

The European Union’s new landmark disinformation and hate speech law allows regulators to fine platforms up to 6 percent of their global revenue if they don't take down illegal products, fake news, or hate speech.