Vietnam has taken a significant step by ordering telecommunications providers to block the messaging app Telegram. This decision comes after the government claimed that Telegram was not cooperating in addressing alleged criminal activities on its platform. Telegram expressed surprise at this move.
On May 21, the Ministry of Science and Technology sent letters to internet service providers, stating that there were signs of law violations on Telegram. The ministry instructed these providers to implement measures to prevent the app’s activities in Vietnam and to report back by June 2.
According to the government, nearly 70 percent of the 9,600 channels on Telegram in Vietnam are linked to "poisonous and bad information." They claimed that various groups on the app have spread anti-state documents and engaged in activities deemed reactionary. The government also alleged that some Telegram users were involved in selling data, drug trafficking, and had connections to terrorist activities.
Vietnam’s government is known for its strict approach to dissent, often moving quickly to silence critics, especially those who use social media to voice their opinions. New regulations introduced last year require platforms like Facebook and TikTok to verify user identities and provide user data to the authorities. Critics see these rules as a further attack on freedom of expression in the country.
In response to the government’s actions, a Telegram representative stated that the company had been timely in responding to legal requests from Vietnam and was still processing a request due by May 27. An official from Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology pointed out that Telegram’s failure to share user data in criminal investigations led to this decision.
As of the latest reports, Telegram remains accessible in Vietnam. The country has around 79.8 million internet users, with approximately 11.8 million using Telegram. With nearly one billion users globally, Telegram has faced various controversies over security and data privacy.
This situation highlights the ongoing tension between government authorities and social media platforms, particularly in countries with strict regulations on freedom of speech.