Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications has ordered local telecom firms to block Telegram, due to its alleged role in facilitating criminal activities ranging from fraud to terrorism.
The directive, dated May 21, was signed by the deputy head of the ministry’s telecoms department and gives providers until June 2 to implement the block and report back.
Authorities say Telegram has refused to cooperate with law enforcement, particularly by failing to hand over user data tied to criminal investigations.
According to the document, 68% of the app’s 9,600 Vietnamese channels and groups were reportedly involved in illegal activities, including drug trafficking, fraud schemes, and cases linked to terrorism.
Having reviewed the document, this order came at the request of the country’s cybersecurity department. The government stated: “Many groups with tens of thousands of participants were created by opposition and reactionary subjects spreading anti-government documents.”
Telegram has not responded to the directive, nor has the technology ministry provided additional public comment. As of Friday, the app remained operational in Vietnam.
The case fits into a comprehensive campaign by the Communist Party-led government to tighten control over digital platforms. Vietnam has repeatedly pushed companies like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to remove content it deems “toxic.”
Telegram, according to the ministry, is being penalised for not enforcing rules requiring platforms to actively monitor and delete illegal content.
Warnings from law enforcement about criminal threats on Telegram are not new. Police and state-controlled media have consistently highlighted fraud and data breaches tied to the app’s encrypted channels.
What’s changed now is the government’s resolve to act more forcefully, likely due in part to Telegram’s perceived defiance.
Globally, Telegram has been dogged by controversy. In France, its founder Pavel Durov was briefly detained in 2024 amid growing pressure on messaging platforms over encryption and data privacy issues.
This sudden escalation also comes at a diplomatically sensitive time. French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Vietnam this week. Some analysts suggest the timing may not be coincidental, given France’s own recent run-ins with Telegram and the EU’s digital regulation move.
Governments are under pressure, internally or geopolitically, they usually turn to digital spaces to reassert control.
