The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) of the Philippines announced that it would not move forward on the proposed ban on Telegram, following talks with Telegram representatives Ronak Singh and Abhimanyu Yadav, and that both parties had discussed compliance commitments aimed at strengthening the fight against illegal activities on Telegram.
Last week, DICT warned that the Philippines would ban Telegram if irregularities related to illegal gambling and online sexual abuse persisted. This warning has raised concerns in the industry, particularly among licensed lottery operators who use encrypted channels for marketing and promotion. However, after negotiations, DICT confirmed that it would not block Telegram. Instead, the parties agreed to address regulatory concerns through structured cooperation while keeping the platform operational. Under the agreement, Telegram is required to implement a 7*24-hour customer response system to ensure that reports of illegal content are acted upon immediately. The Philippine authorities expect this mechanism to speed up the elimination of accounts and groups associated with illicit gambling and other abuses.
Government officials in the Philippines stressed that the agreement included a zero-tolerance policy for online child sexual abuse and exploitation, illegal gambling and related abuse. According to DICT, these measures are in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘ s instructions to clean up digital space and protect Filipinos from cyber-harm. At the international level, other regulatory bodies have also taken action against illegal gambling activities on the instant communication platform, but no comprehensive ban has been imposed. For example, the Tamil Nadu Online Games Authority (TNOGA) in India blocked three Telegram groups promoting illegal lottery in January, affecting over 13,500 members.
