Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications has issued an official order to block the messaging app Telegram, citing the platform’s failure to cooperate with local authorities in criminal investigations and rising concerns over illegal activity facilitated by its users.
According to a government document dated May 21 and signed by the deputy director of the Telecommunications Department, telecom service providers in Vietnam have been instructed to implement technical measures to restrict access to Telegram. Providers must report back to the ministry with details of their compliance by June 2.
The directive follows a warning from the country’s Cybersecurity Department, which revealed that police investigations had flagged 68 percent of Vietnam’s 9,600 Telegram channels and groups for legal violations. The alleged offenses include fraud, drug trafficking, and activities suspected of being linked to terrorism.
The ministry accused Telegram of refusing to share user data with Vietnamese authorities, despite formal requests during criminal investigations. A government official confirmed to Reuters the authenticity of the document and described the decision as a response to the platform's continued non-compliance with national security efforts.
Telegram, a global messaging service often touted for its privacy protections and encryption, has not yet issued a public response. The Ministry of Information and Communications also declined further comment when approached.
As of Friday, Telegram remained accessible in Vietnam, though the order signals imminent restrictions that may impact millions of users across the country.
Telegram continues to compete internationally with platforms like Meta-owned WhatsApp and China’s WeChat, both of which operate under stricter content and data-sharing regulations in several countries.
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