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The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Council (CICC) are currently monitoring the messaging app Telegram following increasing reports of illegal activities operating within the platform.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda previously confirmed that the application is under observation due to its usage for online gambling, scams, piracy, the sale of illegal drugs, and cases of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
Platform Cooperation and OSAEC
According to a new DICT statement, the government requires communication with platform operators to address these issues. Secretary Aguda highlighted that certain crimes carry a strict policy from the administration.
“The issue of online sexual exploitation and abuse of children (OSAEC) is non-negotiable,” Aguda stated. “If these types of activities continue and there is no cooperation from the platforms, we will not hesitate to recommend blocking them. The instruction of our President is clear: eradicate the social harm brought by technology.”
Coordination Challenges and Local Presence
A primary obstacle identified by the government is the absence of a physical Telegram office in the Philippines. This operational setup limits the ability of local authorities to trace individuals conducting illicit activities on the application.
CICC Executive Director and Undersecretary Renato Paraiso explained that the government needs a mechanism to obtain the credentials of suspects using Telegram for exploitation, scamming, and other illegal operations.
“When their platform is used for exploitation, we need to know who is doing it,” Paraiso said. “To do that, they need to have an office here or someone we can talk to directly. An app cannot become a haven for criminals just because of a lack of coordination.”
Ban as a Last Resort
The DICT and CICC clarified that a directive to block or fully ban Telegram remains a last resort. The agencies indicated that their primary objective is to establish tighter cooperation and accountability with the technology company.
The government agencies maintained that they are enforcing current laws to manage the risks present in the digital space while they attempt to establish contact with the platform’s operators.
This article is published on BitPinas: Telegram Ban is “Last Resort” — DICT, CICC
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