Telegram CEO Flags Rising EU Censorship While Russia Preserves Open Access

4 points by hggh 6 months ago | 6 comments
  • janandonly 6 months ago
    His quote:

    Access to certain Russian media has been restricted in the EU under DSA/sanctions laws. Meanwhile, all Western media Telegram channels remain freely accessible in Russia. Who would have thought that in 2025 Russian Telegram users would enjoy more freedom than Europeans?

    I guess the Russian media are labeled “propaganda” while in Russia the European media aren’t labeled as such? I don’t know what else to make of this. In Europe there is no effort to write news in Russian, but in Russia there might be an effort to write news in French/German/English to influence people there?

    • fulafel 6 months ago
      Propaganda generally enjoys free speech and freedom of press protections in the EU, it's not as such a basis for this kind of media restriction.
      • protomolecule 6 months ago
        >In Europe there is no effort to write news in Russian

        Not true. For example: https://t.me/russian_euronews

        The most popular anti-Putin channels are run by Russian emigrants based in the EU, like this one: https://t.me/meduzalive

        • tdiff 6 months ago
          As well as "Svoboda" radio, which, while not strictly a EU entity, broadcasts in Russian for decades.
        • protomolecule 6 months ago
          Interestingly, Medusa has status of foreign agent and undesirable organization in Russia so its website is blocked, but telegram channel is freely available. Similarly, euronews and svoboda are banned from broadcasting and their websites are blocked.