14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has requested Telegram to shut down three different channels used by the people in Belarus, according to founder Pavel Durov, and the Cupertino-based tech giant has provided the service with no other option.
In other words, if Telegram doesn’t ban the three channels, the app would just get banned, Durov suggested, indicating that there’s a good chance his company would just comply with the request.
“Apple is requesting that we shut down 3 channels used by the people of Belarus to expose the identities of their oppressors,” Durov revealed recently. “Their concern is that publishing the personal information of law enforcers and propagandists may incite violence.”
Durov says that while Telegram would most likely shut down the three channels, the whole thing would only happen on iOS, which means that those on Android and other platforms will continue to be able to use them.
Channels would remain available on Android
Needless to say, the Telegram founder emphasizes that Apple’s censorship attempt doesn’t give developers many options, especially when they rely on the iOS ecosystem for their businesses.
“I think this situation is not black and white and would rather leave the channels be, but typically Apple doesn’t offer much choice for apps like Telegram in such situations. Unfortunately, I assume these channels will end up getting blocked on iOS, but remain available on other platforms,” Durov explained.
Telegram is often considered one of the main alternatives to the likes of WhatsApp and iMessage, and the app is currently available on both Android and iOS, with dedicated apps for the desktop too. Telegram has become a more popular choice mostly thanks to its focus on user privacy and features like secret chats, which allow users to set a self-destruction timer for the encrypted conversation, thus making sure that nobody else reads the messages.