Telegram blocked 64 channels in Germany for spreading anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.
Reuters, citing the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper on Saturday, reported that the German federal police had previously sent a request to Telegram to block the channels.
Telegram is accused of fueling the growth of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Proponents of the theory used the instant messaging platform to exchange news about the dangers of vaccines to organize protests, which turned violent.
The blocked channels include those of Attila Hildmann, the vegan celebrity chef who spread conspiracy theories about the coronavirus to his more than 100,000 followers.
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Germany’s Interior Ministry said last week it had discussed it with representatives of Telegram. The ministry has not provided information about this blocking.
Meanwhile, Telegram chose not to comment on this. The Telegram application in Germany has been very popular among far-right groups.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser last month said Germany could shut down Telegram and was in discussions with partners in the European Union to set up an instant messaging service.
