Iraq on Sunday said it has blocked the Telegram messaging application in relation to breaches of personal data, citing the measure as an effort to protect national security.
The telecommunication ministry has asked Telegram to stop “platforms that leak the data of the official state institutions and the personal data of citizens,” read a ministry statement, saying the request went unanswered.
It went on to underline “respect for citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and communication, without prejudice to the security of the state and its institutions.” Telegram has risen in popularity across Iraq, with many users using the app not only as a messaging platform, but a source of news and information as well.
Source: Kuwait News Agency