Vietnam Blocks Telegram Over Non-Compliance with Cybersecurity Laws

Vietnam has ordered telecom providers to block Telegram, citing the app’s failure to combat illegal content and comply with new telecommunications regulations, Jurist News reported. Authorities claim 68% of 9,600 Vietnamese Telegram channels host harmful material, including scams, extremist content, and subversive documents. The ban follows Article 9(4) of Vietnam’s 2025 Telecommunications Law, which mandates government authorization for messaging platforms—a requirement Telegram allegedly ignored.

The company expressed surprise, asserting compliance with local laws. Vietnam’s government recently tightened social media controls under Decree 147/2024, requiring user verification and data sharing with authorities. While officials frame these measures as security safeguards, critics argue they suppress dissent.

Telegram has until May 27 to seek authorization. The move aligns with Vietnam’s broader crackdown on digital platforms, including prior warnings about crypto scams on Telegram. Human rights groups condemn the restrictions as tools for political repression.