Baghdad: Iraq’s telecommunications ministry has announced the suspension of the Telegram messaging app, citing concerns related to national security and the need to safeguard users’ personal data, which the ministry claims has been mishandled by the app.
In Iraq, Telegram has gained widespread popularity not only for messaging purposes but also as a significant platform for news dissemination and content sharing. Some channels on the app contain substantial amounts of private information, including the names, addresses, and family connections of Iraqi citizens.
According to an official statement by the ministry, it had formally requested the app’s administrators to take action against “platforms that compromise the data of official state institutions and citizens’ personal information.” However, the ministry asserts that Telegram failed to respond to or engage with any of these requests.
The ministry emphasised its commitment to upholding citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and communication while simultaneously maintaining the security of the state and its institutions.
As of now, Telegram has not issued a response regarding the situation.
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