Indonesia considering Telegram ban over lack of moderation

Local reports indicate that Indonesia, one of the largest users of Telegram globally, is considering a ban on the messaging platform due to its insufficient moderation of illegal content.

Budi Arie Setiadi, Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Informatics, claimed that authorities are considering blocking Telegram, the local news agency Jakarta Globe reported on Aug. 29.

According to the minister, Indonesia is concerned about the distribution of illicit content on Telegram, including alleged involvement in promoting online gambling and spreading pornography.

Local authorities are also considering a potential ban on Bigo Live, a global live-streaming app owned by Singapore-based Bigo Technology, alongside the Telegram messenger, due to similar allegations.

Claims Telegram failed to improve moderation after several requests

Budi reportedly said that both Telegram and Bigo promised to improve content moderation following the Indonesian government’s requests. However, the companies have failed to implement better moderation measures and issue a resolution.

The minister added that he’d personally prefer to “shut down” Telegram and Bigo Live, but proper studies are necessary before proceeding with bans.

Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Informatics, Budi Arie Setiadi, during an interview at his office in Jakarta, Indonesia, in May 2024. Source: Reuters

He warned that more evidence of illicit content distribution on the platforms would inevitably lead to their bans in the country, stating:

“We act based on evidence collected by our team. If we find evidence of pornography or gambling promotion, we will proceed with blocking the platforms.”

Indonesia is the third-biggest country in the world in terms of Telegram use

If Indonesia were to ban Telegram, the messaging platform would lose a substantial portion of its user base.

According to Demandsage data, Indonesia is the third-biggest country in the world in terms of Telegram usage, with more than 27 million app downloads coming from the country.

Related: Telegram is under investigation in India: Report

As of July 2024, Telegram had more than 950 million monthly active users, with India having more than 100 million users and Russia ranking second with 34 million users.

Top five countries in terms of Telegram users as of July 2024. Source: Demadsage

The news comes amid Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov being placed under judicial supervision in France following a court appearance linked to his alleged criminal offenses related to his role at Telegram.

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