Indonesia Considers Blocking Telegram for Failing to Curb Illicit Content

Telegram has allegedly been unable to enhance its content moderation practices or provide a satisfactory resolution to illicit content distribution in Indonesia. Despite Multiple requests from the Indonesian government, it has failed to address these concerns.

Local reports suggest that the Indonesian government is contemplating banning Telegram. This action would help protect its citizens from harmful and illicit activities facilitated through Telegram.

This report comes after the recent arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France over alleged content moderation policy violations and illegal activities on the messaging app.

Telegram at Risk of Possible Ban Amid Growing Alarm Over Illegal Content in Indonesia

Budi Arie Setiadi, Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Informatics, highlighted these concerns in a recent statement. He indicated that the authorities are seriously considering blocking Telegram.

The local news agency Jakarta Globe reported this development on August 29, further amplifying the national conversation around the issue.

According to Minister Setiadi, the Indonesian government is alarmed by the illicit content circulated on Telegram. This includes allegations that the platform promotes illegal activities such as online gambling and the distribution of pornography.

These concerns are not new; however, they have become more pressing as the government perceives that Telegram has done nothing to address them.

Local authorities are also contemplating a possible ban on Bigo Live over similar accusations. Bigo is a global live-streaming app owned by Singapore-based Bigo Technology.

Telegram Failed to Improve Its Content Moderation Despite Multiple Requests

According to reports, Budi stated that both Telegram and Bigo Live had promised to enhance their content moderation practices in response to requests from the Indonesian government.

However, despite these assurances, the companies have not successfully implemented any improved moderation measures or provided a satisfactory resolution to the ongoing issues.

Minister Budi further expressed his preference for shutting down Telegram and Bigo Live as they have failed to adequately address these problems.

However, he emphasized that thorough evaluations are crucial before banning them to ensure that actions are well-informed and justified.

He warned that additional evidence proving the distribution of illicit content on these platforms would almost certainly result in their bans within Indonesia.

Minister Budi said, 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."

As of July 2024, Telegram's monthly active users crossed 950 million, with over 100 million users in India and 34 million in Russia.

Indonesia is the third-largest country globally regarding Telegram usage, making it a crucial market for the platform. According to data from Demandsgate, the country has seen over 27 million downloads of the Telegram app.

This substantial figure highlights Telegram's significant user base in Indonesia. Therefore, if the Indonesian government implements this ban, the platform will experience a considerable loss.

Such a ban would have a considerable impact, given that Indonesia's extensive usage represents a significant portion of Telegram's global audience. The potential loss of over 27 million users would not only affect Telegram's user base but could also have a ripple effect on its market presence and revenue generation.

The news follows shortly after French authorities placed Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov under judicial supervision for alleged crimes.

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