MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced on Friday, February 27, that banning Telegram in the Philippines is no longer being considered after the platform reached an agreement with the agency and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
The announcement came via a Facebook post highlighting a recent meeting with Telegram representatives Ronak Singh and Abhimanyu Yadav.
Under the agreement, DICT, CICC, and Telegram pledged to maintain a safer digital environment for Filipino users.
Key provisions of the accord include a 24/7 helpdesk response for immediate action on reported illegal content.
Telegram will also provide regular monthly reports to DICT and CICC detailing content takedowns and other compliance metrics.
The platform has committed to a zero-tolerance policy on online s*x*al abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), illegal g*mbl*ng, and other abusive activities.
The DICT had earlier considered restricting or blocking Telegram due to reports of the platform being used for distributing child exploitation materials and online financial scams targeting users.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda warned that regulators could impose sanctions, including a nationwide ban, if Telegram failed to address violations linked to online s*x*al abuse, illegal gambling, and organized fraud.
Aguda emphasized that public safety takes priority over convenience, and that digital platforms operating in the Philippines must cooperate with authorities to protect users.
Founded in 2013 by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov, Telegram is a cloud-based, encrypted messaging service known for privacy, large broadcast channels, and virtually unlimited file sharing.
The platform has grown in popularity worldwide as an alternative to mainstream messaging apps, especially among users seeking enhanced privacy features.
— The Summit Express