Erbil(Iraq), 13/08/23: The Iraqi telecoms ministry announced on Sunday that it will lift a ban on the Telegram messaging app that was imposed earlier this week, citing security concerns and data leaks from official state organisations and people.
In Iraq, the app is widely used for texting as well as news and information sharing.
Some channels contain enormous amounts of personal data, such as Iraqis’ names, addresses, and familial ties.
The Ministry further clarified that the ban is being lifted because, “the company that owns the platform responded to the requirements of the security authorities that called on the company to disclose the entities that leaked citizens’ data.”
The statement further added that the company, “expressed its full readiness to communicate with the relevant authorities…”
Telegram also commented on the situation stated to Reuters, “posting private data without consent is forbidden by Telegram’s terms of service and such content is routinely removed by our moderators…We can confirm that our moderators took down several channels sharing personal data. However, we can also confirm that no private user data was requested from Telegram and that none has been shared.”
Last week, the ministry stated that the corporation had failed to reply to its request to shut down platforms that leak data from official state institutions as well as people’ personal information.
