Not long ago Telegram was updated to a new version that in itself could seem provocative. At least that appears in their declaration of intent that they published on their own blog. In it, it talks about the possibility of including anonymous administrators and advertises it as Telegram being the most used medium to proclaim democracy and freedom of expression. However, this freedom clashes with the rules established in the App Store and The American company has asked the Russian company to eliminate some of the enabled functions.
Telegram in its latest update talks about freedom of expression. It can clash with other rules. Which of them is more important?
In the latest update of the messaging network, not more famous but more versatile, Telegram announced a new feature that was supposed to support freedom of expression. He literally puts it that way when he talks about your new anonymous administrators role:
Telegram is increasingly used to organize protests in favor of democracy and freedom. Today we present another tool to make protests safer. Tap the Be anonymous switch under admin permissions to activate Batman mode. The administrator who becomes anonymous will be hidden in the list of group members, and their messages within the chat will appear signed with the name of the group, something similar to the publications on the channels.
What seems destined to create a safe and free platform to be able to organize in one way or another, Apple has not liked too much. More specifically to the regulatory policies of the App Store. The American company claims that Recent posts on three of its channels violate specific rules and should be closed.
We are facing a head-on clash between freedom of expression and minor regulatory infractions. However, all rights have limits. Some of them inherent to their own nature and others established by norms that expand or define the concept of that right. This clash has existed since the beginning of time and the result is not clear. It is not known who should prevail. Some will say that being able to say what you want, how and when you want is more important than any other rule. However, one right ends where the other begins. Rights such as privacy or self-image.
Three channels on Telegram clash with the right to privacy and violate Apple's internal rules
The whole problem arises from the existence of three channels on Telegram:
- @karatelibelarusi
- @chatpartizan
- @belarusassholes
Apple requests that these 3 channels used by people from Belarus be closed for exposing the identities of their oppressors. The concern of the American company is that the publication of personal information of law enforcement officers and propagandists may incite violence. Channel owners used Telegram's public forum feature to spread information about resistance efforts targeting Belarusian President Aleksandr G. Lukashenk, who is in a clash with his opponents after holding a rigged election in September.
Later, Apple stated that it did not want to close the channels, but rather I was looking for the removal of specific posts that "disclosed personal information." The problem is that these three channels consist entirely of personal information from violent oppressors and those who helped manipulate the elections. Removing these posts is effectively closing those channels.
It is quite a difficult issue to solve. Freedom of expression against the right to privacy. Regardless of who the data is being published. The laws are the same for everyone and it is clear that Apple's regulations are the same for everyone.
Saving the distances, it is something similar to what happened with Epic Games. The video game producer, wanting the rules to be changed, carried out a maneuver that violated the rules imposed by Apple. It cannot be, the company based in California, was very clear from the beginning: The rules are the same for each and every one of them must comply with the same. It is not worth changing them attending to the affected or involved.
In my opinion, Telegram has every right to put its platform for the benefit of all those who want to express their ideas, but they must respect rules. Rules that we all must comply with, without exception, respecting others.