The Telegram messaging app has been blocked in Iraq, according to the country’s telecoms ministry, due to concerns about national security and to protect the integrity of customer data that the program allegedly managed improperly.
Iraqis frequently use the app for texting, news consumption, and content sharing.
A significant amount of personal information, including Iraqis’ names, addresses, and familial ties, may be found on some channels.
The ministry said in a statement it had asked the app to close down “platforms that leak the data of the official state institutions and the personal data of citizens… but the company did not respond and did not interact with any of these requests.”
“The Ministry of Communications affirms its respect for citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and communication, without prejudice to the security of the state and its institutions,” the statement said.
Telegram did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.