The government will no longer ban messaging platform Telegram after reaching an agreement with its leaders regarding sexual exploitation and other illegal activities on the platform.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced on Friday, February 27, that it will not proceed with the ban, which was previously considered due to the platform’s reputation.
Telegram has been criticized for being associated with scams and sexual content, and as a platform for relationship cheaters, with some users taking advantage of its privacy and security features.
These activities had prompted the DICT to consider banning the app in an effort to curb pornography, including child sexual exploitation, financial scams and deepfake content.
The potential ban drew flak from some users, who noted that the platform is also used for legitimate purposes, such as sharing files and receiving updates from online communities.
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The DICT later said it had reached an agreement with Telegram after meeting with its leaders, including Ronak Singh and Abhimanyu Yadav.
As part of the agreement, Telegram will set up a 24/7 helpdesk to immediately respond to reports of illegal content and will submit monthly reports on takedowns and other metrics to the DICT and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
The platform also committed to a zero-tolerance policy for content involving online sexual abuse and exploitation, illegal gambling and other abusive activities.
“Ito ay bilang tugon sa direktiba ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na linisin ang digital space at protektahan ang bawat Pilipino,” the DICT said.
In 2024, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested during an investigation into crimes linked to the platform, including the circulation of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions.
READ: Telegram CEO arrested over probe into child porn, drug trafficking on app | Telegram messaging app CEO Durov arrested in France, French media say
He has also faced criticism from Western authorities over the app’s reportedly weak content moderation.
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app for mobile and desktop that prioritizes security and speed, allowing users to send messages, make voice calls and share media and files.
