Telegram faces possible ban in Indonesia over moderation failures

Telegram and the live streaming app Bigo Live are reportedly in danger of a potential ban in Indonesia. The government cited alleged pornography and online gambling promotion involvement.

According to the report from local news media outlet Jakarta Globe, Indonesia could potentially ban these two apps for their alleged involvement in the distribution of pornography and online gambling promotion.

Indonesia issues warnings to Telegram and Bigo Live

The report cited that Indonesian Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi has given out warnings to both platforms. However, Budi Arie stated that they didn’t receive adequate response from the platforms.

“I would prefer to shut down Bigo Live and Telegram immediately, but a team needs to conduct further studies first,” Budi Arie said. He added that this is the second warning for Bigo Live and that the next move could be a direct ban.

The communication minister stated that they act based on the evidence collected by the team. He also mentioned that if they find sufficient evidence for the promotion of gambling or pornography, the next move could be the banning of these platforms.

Budi Arie also conveyed his disappointment that, despite the previous responses, both Bigo Live and Telegram have failed to implement the necessary improvements for its content moderation and a proper resolution.

Telegram CEO indicted by French authorities

The announcement by Indonesia comes amidst the ongoing challenges circling Telegram following the arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov. According to the latest updates, Durov has been released on supervision.

Durov has been released from French police custody and has been moved for further questioning to the court. He was placed for up to 96 hours in custody, which is the maximum time that the French law can hold someone before he or she is charged.

The Telegram CEO’s arrest on August 24 was shocking to the entire tech and crypto industry, as the platform was alleged to be a breeding ground for drug trafficking, child pornography distribution, and other illicit activities.