Bloomberg reported that Vietnam is preparing to block access to Telegram, which allows the spread of illegal materials on the popular messaging app and fail to meet local regulatory requirements. According to government officials, this decision comes after repeated concerns about the platform being used for public system and activities being considered harmful to national security.

The country’s Ministry of Public Safety claims that many telegram groups in Vietnam have become hubs for “toxic” materials-including anti-government materials, fraud schemes, drug trafficking and even illegal data trading. Officials say the app has not cooperated with local demands to monitor or remove such materials, nor has it registered its own business in the country required under the Vietnamese Act.

Local telecommunications and internet providers have been instructed to block Telegram, although the app and the Ministry of Technology of Vietnam have not responded to requests for comments.

This step fits a comprehensive effort by a party government in Vietnam to increase its control over online places. While global platforms like Facebook and YouTube are still accessible in the country, Hanoi has taken a tough stance on dissatisfaction and unauthorized materials. In 2023, officials said that foreign social media platforms should verify the user’s identity and provide them to the government at request.

While critics see these stages as part of a mounting clampdown on free speech, officials say that such measures are necessary to ensure stability and implement law in digital space.

The future of Telegram in Vietnam is now hanging in balance, as the government indicated that it will continue to push back against platforms that do not align with their regulatory structure.