The Amsterdam municipality has enacted a ban on the use of Telegram by its civil servants due to concerns over criminal activities and potential espionage associated with the app.
This decision, which was implemented in late April but only recently disclosed, reflects increasing scrutiny of the encrypted messaging platform.
According to Alexander Scholtes, Amsterdam's IT councilor, the ban is part of a broader effort to address security threats posed by Telegram, which has been described as a haven for hackers, cybercriminals, and drug dealers. Scholtes also raised concerns about the app's potential for espionage.
The move follows previous calls by Amsterdam city councilor Fatihya Abdi for a national prohibition, citing the recruitment of young individuals for criminal activities via the platform.
Telegram, which boasts nearly two million users in the Netherlands, joins TikTok on a growing list of apps restricted on government devices due to security concerns.
Telegram, owned by Russian-born Pavel Durov, is known for its robust privacy features, including encrypted messages and the ability to create channels for broadcasting information.
Durov has defended the app's commitment to user privacy and freedom of expression, even refusing to comply with certain government requests for data sharing.
The European Union is also considering stricter regulations for Telegram, potentially classifying it as a "very large online platform" under new EU censorship rules.
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