Telegram ‘surprised’ as Vietnam orders messaging app to be blocked

In a move that’s turning heads across the global tech community, Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications has ordered local telecommunication providers to block the popular messaging app Telegram, citing the platform’s alleged failure to cooperate in criminal investigations. The directive, dated May 21, comes amid rising concerns over illegal activities facilitated through the app — including fraud, drug trafficking, and content reportedly linked to terrorism.

According to official documents, 68% of Telegram’s 9,600 channels and groups in Vietnam are believed to have violated national laws, prompting the country’s cybersecurity agency to demand swift action. Local telecom operators have been instructed to implement technical measures to restrict Telegram’s services and report back to authorities by June 2.

The Vietnamese government confirmed the decision on its national web portal shortly after international media reports surfaced.

Telegram, for its part, expressed surprise at the move. In a statement to Reuters, a company spokesperson said:

“Telegram is surprised by those statements. We have responded to legal requests from Vietnam on time. This morning, we received a formal notice from the Authority of Communications regarding a standard service notification procedure required under new telecom regulations. The deadline for the response is May 27, and we are processing the request.”

Vietnam’s authorities argued that the action follows Telegram’s refusal to provide user data for criminal cases, a requirement under the country’s cybersecurity law. State-run media and police have issued repeated warnings over the risks of fraud, data breaches, and illicit activity on Telegram’s channels.

This latest crackdown aligns with Vietnam’s longstanding policy of tight media control and strict oversight of digital platforms. The government has previously pressured companies like Facebook, Google’s YouTube, and TikTok to swiftly remove what it classifies as “toxic” or anti-state content.

The official document also claims that Telegram has failed to comply with regulations mandating social media platforms to actively monitor and remove illegal or harmful information. Additionally, it alleges that numerous opposition groups using Telegram have been circulating anti-government materials.

As of Friday, however, Telegram remained accessible within Vietnam.