Philippines Threatens Telegram Ban Over Child Abuse, Gambling
The Department of Information and Communications Technology is studying a potential ban on Telegram after illegal gambling operators shifted their activities to the messaging app. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda identified three non-negotiable issues that could trigger the block: online sexual exploitation of children, financial scams, and deepfake content.
Key Takeaway
Telegram faces Philippines ban unless it addresses child abuse content, potentially disrupting crypto trading communities.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda confirmed that illegal gambling operators have transferred their activities to Telegram, making enforcement difficult. Aguda met with Meta Platforms officials to discuss similar issues on their platforms, but noted that coordinating with Telegram's management has proven particularly challenging. The department is working with both the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation to target these operations.
The government would block the platform if child exploitation content continues, Aguda warned. Financial scams have decreased somewhat but still persist, while deepfake content is spreading rapidly. Aguda pointed out that politicians' photos hardly resemble them anymore due to image filtering technology now available.
Thailand blocked Telegram in October 2020 during protests, while Brazil's Superior Electoral Court ordered a temporary suspension in March 2022 for non-compliance with fake news removal orders. Russia's 2018 attempt to block Telegram resulted in blocking 19 million IP addresses, causing unintended disruption to Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Mastercard due to Telegram's routing architecture.
A potential Telegram block in the Philippines would require involvement from telecom regulators and ISPs, following precedent from prior bans on unregistered crypto exchanges. Telegram scam cases in the Philippines are prosecuted under the Revised Penal Code and cybercrime laws, with evidence governed by the Rules on Electronic Evidence and Rule on Cybercrime Warrants.
This article was written based on reporting from Dzrh.
