Vietnam: The Vietnamese government has directed internet service providers (ISPs) nationwide to block the popular messaging app Telegram.
The action was triggered by allegations that the platform failed to cooperate with criminal investigations and was being used to spread anti-state content and engage in other unlawful activities.
The order, issued by the Telecommunications Department under the Ministry of Science and Technology instructed ISPs to implement solutions and measures to prevent Telegram’s activities in Vietnam and to submit compliance reports to the ministry by June 2.
According to the Vietnamese government, authorities have identified serious legal violations on the platform. Officials claim that nearly 70 percent of the 9,600 Telegram channels operating within Vietnam contain what they describe as poisonous and bad information.
Citing police sources, the report accused various Telegrams of spreading anti-government content, engaging in reactionary activities, selling personal user data, and even participating in drug trafficking and terrorism-related operations.
Vietnam’s move to block Telegram is the latest step in a broader campaign by its communist government to clamp down on dissent and tighten control over digital platforms.
New regulations introduced last year require tech companies operating in Vietnam including global giants such as Facebook and TikTok to verify user identities and provide user data to government agencies upon request.
These measures have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and press freedom advocates, who argue that they represent a serious threat to freedom of expression and the right to privacy in the Southeast Asian nation.
Vietnam, a one-party state, has a long history of swift and harsh responses to online dissent. The government routinely arrests critics who express opposition online, and its digital censorship apparatus has expanded significantly in recent years.
Telegram has faced scrutiny from governments worldwide for its alleged role in facilitating extremist content, security breaches, and criminal coordination. The app is known for its encryption features, which make it a popular platform for privacy-conscious users but also a challenge for regulators.
