Messaging app Telegram is facing increased scrutiny worldwide as governments grapple with its role in facilitating both free speech and purported security threats. The platform, known for its strong encryption and user privacy features, has become a lightning rod for controversy in recent years. Telegram’s challenges came to a head recently when co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov was recently detained near Paris in connection with an investigation into alleged offenses related to the app, including organised crime and drug trafficking. Telegram quickly responded, stating that “Durov has nothing to hide” and calling the allegations “absurd.”
Despite these challenges, Telegram remains a vital tool for free speech and organisation in many parts of the world. During protests in Belarus and Thailand, for example, the app played a crucial role in helping activists coordinate their efforts and share information.
This incident is just the latest in a series of clashes between Telegram and various governments. According to data from Surfshark and Netblocks, 31 countries have implemented temporary or permanent bans on the platform since 2015, affecting over 3 billion people globally. Here is the list of countries where Telegram has been banned or faces scrutiny.
United Kingdom: In the United Kingdom, Telegram channels were allegedly used to coordinate anti-immigrant riots in August, prompting calls for stricter regulation. Spain briefly banned the app in March over copyright concerns, though the decision was quickly reversed. Norway has prohibited government officials from using Telegram on work devices, citing national security risks.
Germany: Germany considered banning the app in 2022 after identifying channels potentially violating hate speech laws, ultimately fining Telegram €5 million for non-compliance with local regulations. In Ukraine, the app has been crucial for wartime communication but has also raised concerns about potential exploitation by Russian actors.
Spain: In March, Spain briefly banned Telegram after a judge ruled in favor of four major media groups – Mediaset, Atresmedia, Movistar, and Egeda. These companies complained that Telegram was disseminating their copyrighted content without authorization. The judge had requested certain information from Telegram in July 2023 and ordered the app to be blocked when the company failed to respond. However, the ruling was quickly reversed after being criticized as disproportionate and potentially harmful to millions of users.
Norway: While not implementing a nationwide ban, Norway has prohibited the use of Telegram on work devices for ministers, state secretaries, and political advisors. This decision, made in March 2023, was based on national security concerns. The Norwegian intelligence service identified Russia and China as primary threat actors against Norwegian security interests, noting that social media platforms could be used to spread disinformation and fake news.
Germany: In 2022, Germany considered banning Telegram after identifying 64 channels that potentially violated German laws against hate speech, including antisemitic conspiracy channels. Instead of an outright ban, Germany issued a €5 million fine against Telegram for failing to comply with German law. In response, Telegram agreed to cooperate with the German government and delete videos with potentially illegal content.
Russia: Russia implemented a two-year ban on Telegram from 2018 to 2020. The ban was initiated after Telegram’s co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov refused to comply with requests to hand over information on certain users. Despite the ban, the app remained widely used in Russia, even by government departments such as the Russian Foreign Ministry and the national COVID-19 task force, which maintained official channels on the platform.
Belarus: While not officially banned, Telegram use in Belarus carries significant risks. The government has published a list of Telegram channels considered extremist and anti-government. Users who join these channels may face up to seven years in prison, according to Amnesty International. Despite these risks, Telegram played a crucial role during the 2020-2021 anti-government protests, serving as one of the few functional social media apps when the country blocked internet access for three days during the presidential election.
China: Telegram has been blocked in China since 2015. The ban followed a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Telegram’s servers, which some experts believe may have been orchestrated by the Chinese government to justify censoring the app. Prior to the ban, human rights lawyers in China reportedly used Telegram to criticize the government and Chinese Communist Party.
Iran: Iran has blocked Telegram since 2018, following protests that erupted a year earlier calling for economic justice in the country. The Iranian government accused Telegram of facilitating these protests and advocated for the promotion of local apps instead. Before the ban, it was reported that approximately half of Iran’s population of 80 million used Telegram for communication. Many users continue to access the app through virtual private networks (VPNs).
India: While not banned outright, Telegram is under investigation in India over its alleged role in various criminal activities. The Indian government has stated it would consider a ban pending the results of the probe. Concerns in India include the leaking of exam papers, the spread of child pornography, stock price manipulation, and extortion. In July, Indian authorities uncovered a stock price manipulation scheme involving a Telegram channel administrator.
Thailand: Telegram has been banned in Thailand since 2020 due to its use in organising anti-government protests that year. The protests called for the resignation of former prime minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, who had seized power in a 2014 coup. Telegram was particularly effective in helping protesters organise gatherings at short notice.
