The issue of blocking the Telegram messenger is relevant for many active Internet users. However, few people know when it will end and whether it will end at all.
The history of the appearance of Telegram
People owe the appearance of Telegrams to the messenger market to the notorious Pavel Durov, the creator of the now popular social network VKontakte. Back in 2011, Durov thought about creating a secure means of communication that would allow the transmission of messages without fear that their content would become known to third parties. For several years, a special encryption technology was developed, after which, in mid-August 2013, the first Telegram application became available to ordinary users. The wave of popularization of the messenger covered the world in October 2013, when the famous Arab blogger Khaled advertised it on his microblog. Subsequently, Telegram began to be used not only by ordinary users, but also by government agencies of some countries. At the moment, its audience is over 200 million people.
Features of the messenger
The main functions of this messenger are the transmission of text messages and media files of various formats. In addition to the functions typical for almost all instant messengers, Telegram has its own characteristics. For example, Telegram contains a tool base for creating public channels that allow you to transmit any information to a large circle of people. In addition, the creators of the messenger guarantee its users complete anonymity. Telegram ensures the confidentiality of transmitted information.
Why Telegram can be blocked?
In the summer of 2017, there was a conflict between the creators of Telegram and the Russian authorities represented by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. At the request of the FSB of the Russian Federation, Telegram was supposed to transfer encryption keys that would allow access to users' correspondence. This requirement was due to the fact that terrorists used the messenger when organizing a terrorist attack in St. Petersburg in April 2017. However, the Telegram management tried to challenge this requirement in court, due to the impossibility of its execution. The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation rejected the claim of the Telegram management, as a result of which Roskomnadzor demanded that the keys be handed over within 15 days.
The deadline provided by Roskomnadzor for the fulfillment of the requirement expired on April 4, 2018. The Telegram management did not provide the keys during the specified period, which was the reason for filing a claim to block Telegram on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The lawsuit itself cannot become the reason for blocking the messenger, since it cannot be perceived as a real reason for actions of this nature. So, solely a court decision in favor of Roskomnadzor will entail the blocking of Telegram.
At the same time, the trial is quite lengthy and can take many years. Given the current workload of the courts, the appointment of the first court session is possible in a few months, and even in six months. Of course, if the hearing does not require additional examinations and the requesting of the relevant legislation, which also increases the duration of the trial.
Suppose the trial has passed, the decision is not in favor of the Telegram management. Then it will come into legal force only after a month, which makes it possible for the losing party to file an appeal. The appellate instance also does not consider the case at one point: the consideration of the complaint takes at least two months. Moreover, even if the original decision is left unchanged, the messenger will not be blocked on the same day.
Thus, Telegram will be blocked forever only by a court decision in favor of Roskomnadzor. However, even in this case, the blocking process will take a lot of time, which will enable users to find a suitable alternative to such a convenient messenger.
