A Tehran-based court today ordered Iranian telecommunications providers to block popular messaging app Telegram, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Iran has been concerned about Telegram's role in recent protests and unrest in the country, which has led to the ban.

Telegram app

The order said Telegram gave Islamic State "safe ground" in an attack in Tehran last year and also blamed its role in protests in December and January, the biggest in Iran in almost a decade. It ordered telecommunications providers to block the service.

As of now, the Telegram app continues to be available for use without the need for a VPN or another method of circumventing the ban, and it is not clear if and when it will be rendered unavailable in the country.

According to The Wall Street Journal, approximately 40 million Iranians use Telegram, accounting for one-fifth of Telegram's user base. Telegram is popular in the country as it offers end-to-end encrypted communication that's inaccessible to the government.

Iran's move to ban Telegram comes just a few weeks after a Russian court ordered Russian telecommunications providers to block Telegram in Russia after Telegram refused to comply with government demands for access to users' messages.

Due to U.S. sanctions, Apple does not sell its products in Iran nor is there an Iranian App Store, but there are millions of iPhones in the country that have been smuggled from places like Dubai and Hong Kong.

Apple in March blocked access to the App Store in Iran, preventing Iranians from accessing apps by setting their devices to other regions.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Top Rated Comments

Onexy Avatar
71 months ago
How to make your citizens hate you. A guide for governments.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
71 months ago
So, two repressive governments are banning a messaging app. I can't think of a better endorsement of a messaging app, really. I already use Telegram, but the recent events are telling.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LIVEFRMNYC Avatar
71 months ago
Sucks for them. Telegram is a great messaging service/app. I use it more than Whatsapp nowadays. Mainly cause you can use it attached to your number on multiple devices.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
497902 Avatar
71 months ago
Is telegram really safe (Private)?
No, at least not by default. You have to use secret chats otherwise you won't get end to end encryption.

I'd recommend Signal as it's used by Edward Snowden and has end to end encryption by default.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dilster3k Avatar
71 months ago
Actually all this news makes me want to use the service...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Packers1958 Avatar
71 months ago
I'm sure somehow this will become the fault of the US. When you fear an app, blame the US for all your woes.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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