DICT Secretary Floats Possible Telegram Ban Over Illegal Gambling, Cybercrime Concerns
The Philippines' DICT is considering banning Telegram due to its alleged use in illegal gambling, pornography, and cybercrimes, potentially impacting the crypto industry.Summary
The Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is evaluating a potential ban on the messaging platform Telegram following allegations of its use in facilitating illegal activities such as gambling and online sexual exploitation of children. Secretary Henry Aguda stated the platform is under review due to gambling-related activity within group chats. While acknowledging the potential disruption to the growing blockchain and crypto industry—which relies on Telegram for communication—the DICT prioritizes addressing cybercrimes. The department is coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to dismantle illegal online gambling operations. Any ban would require coordination with telecommunications regulators and internet service providers.
(Source：Plato Data Intelligence)