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Telegram has blocked Hamas channels on Android because Google forced it to (www.theverge.com)

submitted 11 months ago by yakultdrinkr@lemdro.id to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml

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cross-posted from: https://lemdro.id/post/2606865

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[-] CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work 22 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Can confirm. I uninstalled the app and then reinstalled from F-Droid to see if that would allow me to access the Hamas channel. Now I can't log in lol. It says that it's trying to send a code to my Telegram account, but I don't know how to log in. Seems like problem might be that I didn't log out of Telegram before uninstalling. Others have reported the problem on Reddit and Quora, but there aren't any solutions beyond contacting Telegram support. Oh well.

Update: I reinstalled Telegram from the Google Play store and was able to log in again. After I did, I noticed a message from Telegram explaining that I could download the .APK file directly from the Telegram website to avoid restrictions. I was able install and log in that way, but I still had to get the login code from the Google Play version. Anyway, I can now access the Hamas Online channel again from the APK version.

[-] Templa@beehaw.org 5 points 11 months ago

What is posted on this channel if you don't mind me asking?

[-] CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work 2 points 11 months ago

It's mostly official statements and announcements from Hamas including the Al-Quassam brigades. The recent hostage releases were announced here before I heard it in the news, which is mainly why I'm following. There are also some videos of Israeli abuses, and occasionally an anti-Netanyahu meme.

[-] UnhingedStopa@sopuli.xyz 10 points 11 months ago

I mean the ban only works with play store versions of the app, so IMO it's not such a big deal. Feel free to correct me if it is.

[-] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 14 points 11 months ago

I think it still is a big deal that google is censoring so deeply what you should and shouldn't see

[-] Arrakis@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

A significant number of people won't know how to (or even that they can) do that, so it's restricting availability to only those who have the requisite knowledge. Even if there's a workaround, it's still essentially censorship for the un-tech savvy.