DICT eyes possible Telegram ban over cybercrime concerns

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The Department of Information and Communications Technology is weighing the possibility of blocking messaging platform Telegram in the Philippines amid rising concerns over cybercrime activities, including online gambling operations and sexual exploitation.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the agency is attempting to coordinate with Telegram to ensure compliance with local regulations, although he acknowledged that reaching the platform has been challenging.

Aguda also confirmed that the DICT has initiated discussions with Meta regarding similar concerns tied to online abuse and exploitation. 

He emphasized that cases involving sexual exploitation and child abuse are “non-negotiable,” warning that failure to act could prompt the government to restrict access to platforms operating in the country.

Speaking in an interview with DZRH, Aguda said that continued incidents may compel the government to move forward with blocking measures, regardless of potential backlash.

Telegram has faced scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions over content moderation and criminal misuse. In 2024, its co-founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France for allegedly failing to curb criminal activity on the platform. He was later released on bail and remains under investigation.

The DICT has not issued a formal timeline for any potential enforcement action but signaled that platform accountability and user safety remain central to its review.

Separately, Russia has reportedly opened an investigation into Durov for allegedly “abetting terrorist activities,” marking another escalation in his increasingly strained relationship with the Kremlin. 

Russian state-run newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta and Kremlin-aligned tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda have alleged that Telegram has become a tool of Western and Ukrainian intelligence services.