hatred and hatred
Off for Attila: Telegram blocks numerous Hildmann channels
Many of Attila Hildmann’s channels are no longer accessible to Telegram users with a German phone number.
© Stefanie Loos / AFP
Suddenly it works: Because “he violates local laws”, Telegram blocks Attila Hildmann’s most important mouthpiece – at least for German users.
The incarnate figurehead of the lateral thinker movement is losing ground on what is probably the most important communication platform. Numerous channels of the Corona conspiracy theorist Attila Hildmann were blocked by Telegram.
As soon as you try to join one of the numerous larger Hildmann chats, the message reads: “This channel cannot be displayed because it violates local laws.” So far, channels have tended to be blocked on individual systems, such as iOS or Android, but more so to protect the messenger from being removed from the stores. Is the operator of the most important messenger for the lateral thinker movement rethinking, of all things?
Authorities in conversation with Telegram
It was only announced about a week ago that the German authorities had contacted Telegram for the first time. After numerous threats from politics – and a long radio silence from Telegram – it seems to have been possible to reach the former refuge of the anti-corona movement. Apparently, this makes it easier to block channels with criminally relevant content.
This currently affects all chat groups of Attila Hildmann, who repeatedly attracted attention with anti-Semitic statements and the use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations. The blocking of Hildmann was noticed last night by the hacker collective Anonymous. There, the exclusion of the former TV chef is celebrated as a success.
Official statement pending
The Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy (CeMAS) tries to reconstruct on Twitter which new guidelines the expulsion could be based on. Although there was a meeting between Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the messenger’s management team, it is not known whether the events are a direct consequence of the talks. There is currently no corresponding reference either on the Minister’s Twitter profile or in the company’s Telegrams.
As a countermeasure, Hildmann is constantly creating new channels, which, however, are unlikely to last long according to the new rules. He writes on his blog: “Telegram is now actively working with state authorities against the truth.” In order to continue to reach him, he gives the tip to get a foreign number, since the block only applies to German users. For him, however, “the time of Telegram is absolutely over.”
Sources: anonleaks, Cemas on Twitter