Henry Aguda, the Minister of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in the Philippines, recently revealed that the authorities are considering whether to ban the communication platform Telegram. The reason is that intelligence shows that some illegal gambling operators have moved their operations to this platform, and Telegram is also accused of spreading pornographic content containing sensitive photos and videos. In plain terms, the platform has become a "safe harbor" for illegal gambling, and the government is unable to regulate it. Aguda admitted that there are difficulties in communication and coordination with the Telegram management, making it hard to enforce relevant laws on the platform. Want to know the latest developments in Southeast Asian internet regulation and gambling governance? The PASA official website continues to track key policy directions.
First, Black Gambling Shift: Illegal Operators Target Encrypted Communication
According to intelligence held by DICT, some illegal gambling operators, facing blockages on conventional websites, have begun to shift their operations to encrypted communication platforms like Telegram. These platforms feature end-to-end encryption, hidden groups, and flexible payment interfaces, providing new survival spaces for illegal gambling activities.
At the same time, Telegram is also accused of spreading pornographic content containing links to sensitive photos and videos, further increasing the concerns of regulatory bodies.
Second, Regulatory Dilemma: Want to Regulate, But Can't Find the People
Aguda openly stated on the DZRH radio program that the government faces obvious difficulties in communication and coordination with the Telegram management. This means that even if illegal activities occur on the platform, it is difficult for the authorities to demand cooperation in deleting or providing information through conventional channels.
By contrast, DICT had previously met with officials from Meta Platforms to discuss various criminal issues on its social media. Aguda emphasized that the forms of cybercrime are rapidly evolving, and regulatory agencies must upgrade their response strategies accordingly, and cannot continue to use old methods to deal with new problems.
Third, To Ban or Not to Ban: Assessment Ongoing, Impact to Be Evaluated
Currently, the Philippine government has not made a final decision on banning Telegram, and related assessments are still ongoing. If the ban is ultimately pushed forward, it could have a widespread impact on the large number of Telegram users in the Philippines—this platform has a huge user base in the country, covering ordinary chats, community operations, and information acquisition, among other uses.
For users who rely on Telegram for legitimate communication, this would be an "undeserved disaster"; for illegal operators trying to evade regulation through the platform, it might mean having to find another "safe harbor."
————
This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
