Telegram may be blocked in Germany in case of non-compliance with legal requirements

German Interior Minister Nancy Feser warned about disabling the work of the Telegram messenger in case of failure to comply with the requirements of the laws of the country. Such a move may be taken as a "last resort" if other means of dealing with the problem fail. At the same time, Feser notes that Germany alone has no chance to resolve the situation, so a pan-European decision is required on this matter.

As we wrote earlier German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann warned that Telegram could face millions of fines for violating German law.

At the end of December, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, drew attention to the statements of German officials regarding Telegram.

Telegram's 2021 Achievements

The App Annie analytics company published a new report called "State of Mobile 2022" regarding mobile apps popularity and mobile services market development worldwide.

According to the bulletin, after closing the last year we can conclude that Telegram made these achievements:

— Telegram is 5th most downloaded app in the world.
— Telegram has 7th biggest monthly active users base worldwide.
— Telegram is 2nd most downloaded app in Russia, only losing to TikTok.
— The only country where Telegram is 1st most downloadable app is Spain.

#statistics

Telegram for iOS got an 8.4.1 version update

— The animation which follows after you put a reaction has been reduced in size and length. Optionally, you can touch and hold any of the reactions to enjoy a full-fledged animation.
— Animated icons in the navbar. When you click on each of the four icons, you can see an animation.
— Redesigned screens for clearing cache and setting a local PIN.
— New contact sorting section interface.

#iOS

Welt: German authorities want to strengthen control over Telegram

The Federal Criminal Affairs Agency of Germany (BKE) plans to increase pressure on the Telegram messenger by tightening control over the operation of the platform in order to combat illegal content.

"The goal is to achieve cooperation between Telegram and law enforcement agencies, federal authorities, as well as the authorities of federal lands," — the BKA said in response to a request from Die Welt.

Earlier, German Interior Minister Nancy Fraser, in an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit, didn't deny a possibility of a ban of the Telegram messenger in Germany.

Telegram for Android got an 8.4.4 version update

— Animation which follows after you put a reaction has been reduced in size and length. Optionally, you can touch and hold any of the reactions to enjoy a full-fledged animation.

Dowload: Google Play, APK from official website or verified channel.

#Android

Telegram Desktop has been updated to version 3.4.8

What's new:
— Nice animations in reactions.
— Add snap layouts support on Windows 11.
— Bug fixes and other minor improvements.

Download: with official website or GitHub.

#update #desktop

Brazil is considering a ban on Telegram

Authorities in Brazil fear that the messenger could be used to send out mass disinformation ahead of elections scheduled for October.

The current head of the TSE (local analogue of the CEC), Luis Roberto Barroso, sent several letters to Pavel Durov, but did not receive a response. In these letters, the TSE proposed to hold a meeting with the Telegram administration and discuss possible measures aimed at ensuring the security of the upcoming elections. Similar arrangements already exist with Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp.

Telegram has recently been gaining popularity among supporters of the country's current president, Jair Bolsonaro. In early 2021, he started a Telegram channel and even received a verification checkmark, and actively used the messenger during his election campaign in 2018.

Barroso has previously said that "no significant participant in the 2022 electoral process can work in Brazil without proper legal representation, which would be responsible for complying with national laws and judicial decisions." Thus, he hinted at the need to open a physical representation of such companies, including Telegram, in the country. Otherwise, he believes, their work in the country should be banned by legislators.


Read the news in Portuguese in our Brazilian channel @tginfobr

tecnoblog.net/noticias/2022/01/19/tse-cogita-banir-telegram-no-brasil-para-combater-fake-news-nas-eleicoes

#Brazil #locks

Telegram may integrate The Open Network Services

The Open Network group is aimed to keep development of the original TON blockchain going. It invests a lot of resources into advertising its Toncoin cryptocurrency through the official Telegram promotion platform and by signing contracts with Russian influencers.

Developers are working on launching the originally planned infrastructure, the idea of which was put into the core of the blockchain by Pavel Durov's team before they left the development. These are decentralized services based on TON's technology like "TON Payments" payment system, TON Proxy, TON Storage, TON Sites and other projects. It's assumed that the infrastructure can be used in games for in-app purchases, content access, etc. The official website of The Open Network states the payment system is going to be launched in Q2 2022, while TON Sites and TON Storage — in Q3 and Q4 accordingly.

Andrey Rogozov, vice president of the VK holding company (this company owns the VKontakte social network, founded and formerly owned by Pavel Durov), gave an interview to CoinDeck where he announces he is joining the TON Foundation team. Besides that, Telegram Info's source that is closely related to the team confirmed Telegram is "believing it's possible" to integrate the mentioned services if they will be launched in future.

After the TON team lost in court settlement against an American regulator, Pavel Durov and his team left the blockchain development. The Open Network team mostly consists of Telegram Contest winners and, according to some rumors, of some Telegram's core team developers. This group is fighting to be recognized as the leading successors of the original Telegram Open Network project. At some point Pavel Durov transferred the ton․org domain to the group and promoted the group in his channel. The Open Network blockchain used the original TON network intended for testing called «testnet2» by turning it into the upstream one.

Germany has set up a group to investigate crimes using Telegram

Germany's Federal Criminal Authority (BKA) has set up a Telegram working group to improve its ability to investigate crimes using the messenger, the press service of the agency reports.

BKA President Holger Münch said the pandemic has significantly contributed to the radicalization of people on the Telegram site, where calls for reprisals are posted.

"The rule of law must strongly oppose this development. We are eager to cooperate with Telegram, but we will also take our measures if Telegram does not cooperate," Münch said.

The German Interior Minister commented on the situation with Telegram

Nancy Fraser said that her main task is to increase pressure on messenger and clear Telegram of unwanted content.

"We cannot agree that appeals to incite hatred and harassment are being spread through Telegram without Telegram's own reaction [to this]," Feather concluded.

Our news in German: @tginfoger

Telegram is working on video stickers

An API Schema update revealed a mention on video stickers.

Likely, users will be able to create stickers from regular raster videos. We can assume a video format with transparency support will be used. One of the most popular such formats is WebM.

Currently all animated stickers are vector. To create your own animated stickers for Telegram, you need Adobe After Effects skills. Video stickers will make animated stickers easier to create, will allow to use camera footage or, for example, 3D animation.

Two investigations against Telegram launched in Germany

Both launched cases are related to the absence of a commissioner for Telegram in Germany, the messenger is threatened with fines.

The company must appoint a responsible person to resolve legal issues. Among them is the removal of illegal materials. German authorities are concerned that opponents of coronavirus restrictions are coordinating their actions through messengers.

Otherwise, million-dollar fines will follow, said Minister of Justice Marco Busman.

According to information welt.de, Apple has provided Germany with a Telegram contact address.

Our news in German: @tginfoger

#courts #Germany

Video Stickers, Better Reactions and More

Telegram for Android, iOS, macOS and Unigram has been updated to version 8.5, Telegram Desktop — to version 3.5.

Video Stickers
• Use a new type of detailed stickers with smooth animations.
• Create new sets by sending .webm videos to @stickers.
• Bring your custom animated stickers from other apps.

Better Reactions
• See smaller, compact animations when reacting to messages.
• See real-time animations in chat when a user reacts to your message.
• React with additional emoji expressing love, appreciation, anger or surprise.

Read Status for Reactions
• Tap the new button in chats to jump to your messages that have unseen reactions.
• Watch the animations for unseen reactions play when you hit the button.

And More
• The app will warn you before closing if you are uploading photos or files to a chat.
• Enjoy better screencast quality in video chats.

Read all about this update on the Telegram blog:
https://telegram.org/blog/video-stickers-better-reactions

Android: Google Play, APK from official website or verified channel.
iOS: App Store.
Telegram Desktop: with official website or GitHub.
Telegram for macOS: from App Store or verified channel.
Unigram for Windows 10: Microsoft Store | Download | Installation help

#update #Android #iOS #Desktop #macOS #Unigram

Telegram blocked 64 groups after negotiations with the German government

Telegram has blocked 64 groups in Germany for anti-Semitism and incitement of hatred by the requirements of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the criminal police.

On February 10, a second meeting took place between the government and company representatives, the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported, citing its information.

The Telegram channels of conspiracy ideologue Attila Hildmann have been unavailable in Germany since Tuesday. Hildmann has been spreading myths about a conspiracy against the coronavirus and inciting hatred in a channel with 100,000 subscribers on Telegram. Since February 2021, a 40-year-old man has been put on a wanted list in Germany and is allegedly hiding in Turkey.

Our news in German: @tginfoger

#courts #Germany

Wired has released a huge text about Telegram

Pavel Durov has not given interviews in recent years, and all articles are based on old open information and conversations with former messenger employees. Journalist Darren Lucaides spent almost a year talking to former and current Telegram employees.

Durov's Code find out that one of the main characters in the Wired article never worked for Telegram, but was a volunteer.

Elies Campo has never worked for Telegram, let alone lead anything.
The conversations with Pavel Durov, to which he refers in the article, never happened, – stated in the press service of the messenger.

Nevertheless, the journalist managed to talk to former and current employees of Telegram, as well as to meet with Ilya Perekopsky, who is the only one from the team who gives public comments and speaks to the press.

Electoral court President Barroso threatens to suspend Telegram

Supreme Court (STF) Justice and Superior Electoral Court (TSE) President Luís Roberto Barroso again commented on the suspension of Telegram in Brazil.

“I think that a platform, whatever it is, that doesn't want to submit to Brazilian laws should simply be suspended,” he said in an interview with O Globo newspaper.

"Brazil is not a place where just anything can be said”.

Blocking Telegram in Brazil has been a constant topic in the Supreme Court. While Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok have collaborated with the Brazilian court to remove disinformation during the 2020 elections, Telegram ignored dialogues from the Supreme Court of Brazil to work together in 2022.

#courts

RTMP Live Broadcasts in Telegram

A mention of RTMP Live Broadcasts appeared in Telegram API schema.

This will let streamers broadcast not just using the Telegram app, but also using third party software, e.g. OBS Studio. Such software allows composite video and audio from different sources, automating the broadcast, displaying chat and donations. RTMP is a common standard and is supported by other live broadcasting platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

Currently to make a live broadcast backed by third party software you need to use libraries, or you can use OBS by its emulated camera feature passed through Telegram Desktop or Telegram for macOS.

Telegram may be removed from app stores in Brazil

Brazil's Federal Prosecutor's Office addressed a letter to Apple and Google. In it, the authorities asked to remove the Telegram app from Brazilian App Store and Google Play.

Telegram has been a subject of some hot discussions in the Brazilian government lately. High-ranking officials suspect that the messenger is used to send disinformation and conspiracy theories than interfere in the electoral process.

Telegram, unlike other platforms like Twitter and WhatsApp, still has no representatives in Brazil. Authorities have made unsuccessful attempts to contact the company's headquarters to discuss measures the messenger could take "to ensure the security of this year's upcoming presidential elections".

https://tecnoblog.net/noticias/2022/02/22/mpf-recorre-a-google-e-apple-para-limitar-telegram-no-brasil/

#courts

Telegram announces new competition for developers to create face conversion module for video

Task: Create a cross-platform C++ module for face correction, and embed the module in a demo app on iOS or Android, which would convert video from the front camera in real-time.

Requirements:
- High 30/60 FPS performance;
- Entries must have a total module size (binary size) not exceeding 2 MB;
- Third-party libraries (OpenCV and similar) and ML models are not welcome, but not forbidden.

Prerequisites:
- All developers are welcome to participate.
- In addition to the prize money, the winners will also get a chance to work on Telegram in Dubai.

Prize Fund: $40,000
Deadline for entries: March 13, 2022, 23:59 Dubai time
Results announcement: 17 March 2022

#contest

Pavel Durov ensured Telegram is safe for Ukrainians and made a statement about his position on the conflict.

The Telegram CEO and ex-CEO of Russian social network VK retold his story, explaining why you should consider Telegram to be safe for Ukrainians and why he is not going to work with the Russian government.

You can read the post on his channel.