Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Social messaging platform Telegram has blocked channels used by Hamas, though only on Android phones. According to CNBC, two channels — hamas_com and al-Qassam brigades — were cut off for Android users, though other channels the group uses, like Gaza Now, are still accessible.
Telegram blamed the blocks on Google’s app store guidelines, according to a story in The Jerusalem Post. Users reportedly see an error saying the channels can’t be viewed on “Telegram apps downloaded from the Google Play Store,” implying that the ban doesn’t extend to the app when it’s downloaded from elsewhere or used on another operating system.
Both Meta and X (formerly Twitter) have said they’ve taken action to block Hamas-linked accounts and limit the spread...
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