HCMC – Vietnam has ordered telecom providers to block access to Telegram, citing the platform’s failure to cooperate with authorities in addressing alleged criminal activities carried out by its users.
The Authority of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Science and Technology issued the directive and requested providers to report results and proposed solutions by June 2.
According to official data, around 68% of Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam are considered harmful or malicious.
The platform has also been a key tool in numerous fraud and asset appropriation cases, with total damages exceeding VND1 trillion, over 13,000 victims affected, and more than 23 million personal data records publicly offered for sale.
The use of telecommunications infrastructure for activities that threaten national security or public order is prohibited under Article 9 of the Telecommunications Law.
Under Decree 147/2024 on internet management, companies providing cross-border services to Vietnamese users are required to comply with content moderation requests and remove violating information upon request from authorities.
However, since the beginning of 2025, Telegram has failed to notify or cooperate with the Authority of Telecommunications, despite multiple reminders.
The Authority of Telecommunications said that Interpol has ranked Telegram among the least cooperative platforms in handling illegal content. At least eight countries, including Spain, India, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Pakistan, and Norway, have taken steps to restrict or block the app for similar reasons.
