The Vietnamese government officially ordered the blockade of the instant messaging platform Telegram on the early morning of May 26, 2025, citing its failure to cooperate in investigating users' illegal activities, which has posed a threat to national security.
The order was issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications, requiring all national telecommunications operators to implement technical blocking and to submit an implementation report by June 2.
According to Decree No. 163, which took effect in 2025, Vietnam has the right to block any online platforms that do not cooperate with the government. The Ministry of Communications pointed out that among the approximately 9,600 active channels and groups on Telegram in Vietnam, nearly 68% are involved in scams, drug trafficking, reactionary propaganda, and even terrorist activities.
The police stated that Telegram has long refused to provide user data and has not actively cleaned up illegal content, seriously hindering law enforcement. National media repeatedly remind the public to be wary of scams and data leakage risks on Telegram.
Telegram, known for its focus on privacy, has nearly 1 billion users worldwide but has frequently sparked controversy due to its lax content regulation. Its founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France in 2024 and is currently facing multiple judicial investigations, with a travel ban in place.
As of now, Telegram and the Vietnamese government have not yet made an official response to the blockade incident. Some users have reported that despite the platform being blocked, it is still accessible through technical means.
