Telegram takes unprecedented step in blocking Russian media channels, but enforcement remains incomplete

Social media giant Telegram, a platform long regarded for its hands-off approach to content moderation, announced on 30 December that it is blocking access within the EU to a number of Russian state-owned media, citing a need to comply with EU regulations such as the Digital Services Act (DSA). 

This move comes just two weeks after Alliance4Europe and Science Feedback published a groundbreaking report exposing the systemic use of Telegram and other platforms by sanctioned entities to bypass restrictions and reach millions of users.

Our report notes, amongst other things, that it is crucial to establish whether these services’ efforts to prevent (or failure to prevent) the dissemination of illegal content meet the risk mitigation obligations set out in the DSA (Articles 34 and 35). We welcome the announcement by Telegram, as disinformation through state-owned media channels are central in Russia’s hybrid warfare against European democracy. 

Telegram is the first platform to openly state that they have taken action against sanctioned channels, and that they will comply with national laws and the DSA. That said, Telegram’s actions are still limited: many official Telegram channels owned by RT, Sputnik, or other Russian-sanctioned media remain accessible. 

As of today, using data from our report, we reveal that 80% of Telegram channels identified as operated by EU-sanctioned Russian media remain accessible within the European Union. Even more concerning, all identified Telegram channels operated by sanctioned individuals and companies—many of whom are sanctioned for propagating disinformation and propaganda—remain fully accessible to users in the EU.

“Russia uses its government-affiliated channels as part of a hybrid attack on European democracy, and it is great to see the law enforced. Civil society organizations consistently showcase the positive impact of cooperation to defend against attacks on democracy, and building up resilience. There needs to be stronger cooperation between civil society, regulators and policymakers.”
– Omri Preiss, Managing Director Alliance4Europe

To protect Europe’s information space, we outline the following needs:

• Sanctioned outlets must be blocked across the entire EU without exception, enforcing EU law
• The European Commission has to establish clear guidelines for compliance with the Digital Services Act in relation to this issue.
• Russian efforts to circumvent sanctions and blocks must be combated by European and national stakeholders to ensure Kremlin Disinformation is identified and shut down as it tries to corrupt the EU information space.

“Propaganda thrives where accountability is weak. EU sanctions against Russian state media since 2022 were meant to disrupt their influence, yet some platforms still unlawfully provide access to European audiences. Until meaningful consequences are enforced, the benefits of such influence operations will continue to far outweigh the costs.”
– Charles Terroille, Science Writer & Analyst, Science Feedback 

Through effective regulation and enforcement, we can safeguard our democratic processes from foreign information manipulation and interference. This requires clarity from institutions on how to enforce and apply EU laws, so that neither Big Tech platforms, nor threat actors such as the Kremlin disinformation networks, can dodge these essential protections.