Countries which have banned Telegram; From China, U.K. to Thailand

Telegram, a messaging app, has been accused of spreading disinformation and enabling extremism globally. Recently, CEO Pavel Durov was detained in Paris for alleged offences. Telegram released a blog post denying the allegations, asserting that CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels across Europe. The company claims it is absurd to hold the platform or its owner responsible for misuse.

In India, Telegram faces scrutiny for alleged criminal activities, including gambling, leaking exam papers, child pornography and stock price manipulation. In response to the arrest, netizens have reacted with memes saying, "Darr ka mahol hai." Indian authorities have launched an investigation into these allegations, and if proven true, Telegram could face a ban in India. In this context, explore the countries that have already banned Telegram before these recent developments.

List of countries where Telegram is either banned or under strict scrutiny

Global bans 2024: Telegram under scrutiny

United Kingdom
In the UK, Telegram channels were allegedly used to coordinate anti-immigrant riots in August, leading to calls for stricter regulation. In March, Spain briefly banned Telegram over copyright issues, though the decision was swiftly overturned. Meanwhile, Norway has barred government officials from using Telegram on work devices due to national security concerns.

Spain

In March 2023, Spain briefly banned Telegram after a judge ruled in favor of major media groups who claimed their copyrighted content was being distributed without permission. The ban was quickly reversed after criticism, highlighting concerns over the app’s potential misuse and its impact on millions of users.

Norway

While not enacting a full ban, Norway has restricted the use of Telegram on work devices for government officials due to national security risks, particularly from Russia and China. The decision underscores concerns about the platform's potential to spread disinformation.

Germany

Germany considered banning Telegram in 2022 after identifying 64 channels that violated hate speech laws. Instead, the country imposed a €5 million fine on the app for non-compliance, prompting Telegram to agree to delete content deemed illegal by German authorities.

Russia

Russia imposed a two-year ban on Telegram from 2018 to 2020 after the platform refused to share user data with the government. Despite the ban, Telegram remained popular, even among government departments, which continued to use the app for official communication.

Belarus
In Belarus, Telegram is not officially banned, but using certain channels can be risky. The government has labelled specific Telegram channels as extremist, and users who follow them could face severe penalties, including imprisonment. Despite these risks, the app was crucial during the 2020-2021 protests.

China

Telegram has been blocked in China since 2015, following a DDoS attack believed to be government-orchestrated. The app had been used by human rights lawyers to criticise the government before the ban, which is part of China's broader internet censorship strategy.

Iran

Telegram was banned in Iran in 2018 following protests calling for economic reforms. The Iranian government accused the app of facilitating unrest and encouraged the use of local alternatives. Despite the ban, many Iranians continue to access Telegram using VPNs.

Thailand

Telegram has been banned in Thailand since 2020 after it was used to organise anti-government protests. The platform was instrumental in helping demonstrators coordinate their efforts against the government, leading to the ban as authorities cracked down on dissent.