It seems that Pavel Durov has hit a rough patch. Following his arrest in France, several countries, including Indonesia, have accused Telegram of numerous serious offenses, ranging from weapon distribution to child pornography.
Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Information, Budi Arie Setiadi, recently stated that Telegram is just one step away from being blocked in the country, citing its role in facilitating gambling and pornography, as well as its refusal to cooperate with law enforcement. It looks like we might need a VPN soon to keep up with Bali's chat groups.
"We warned Telegram twice because there is massive distribution of not only gambling but also pornography on this platform," Budi Arie Setiadi said at the Jakarta Communication and Information Office.
However, the Minister of Communication and Information did not specify exactly when Durov's messenger might be banned under Indonesian law. So far, it's known that Indonesian authorities have sent two letters to Telegram's office, and an ongoing investigation will likely determine the platform's fate. Though from the tone of the authorities, it seems the decision might already be made.
"I'd like to do it now. But our experts must first study it. Once that’s done, we will take wise and decisive steps," Budi said. "We will resolve this peacefully in accordance with Indonesian digital laws, and most likely, it will be shut down," the Minister added.
The relationship between Telegram and Indonesian authorities is long and complex. Back in 2017, the web version of the messenger was blocked in the country. However, Pavel Durov personally resolved the issue. The founder of Telegram flew to Indonesia on a private jet and met with the then Minister of Communication and Information, Rudiantara. Authorities were unhappy with how difficult it was to contact Telegram and how long it took to process requests to block harmful content, including radicalism and terrorism.
Durov visited the Ministry of Communication and Information and had lunch with Rudiantara. The media discussed the lunch menu, which consisted of typical Indonesian dishes. Following that meeting, Telegram immediately began complying with Indonesia’s regulations, particularly in coordinating with Indonesian authorities on managing harmful content.
"After that, Durov came to Jakarta to personally discuss the problem, and we were able to agree on several things, including that Telegram would assign a special person from their team with whom we could communicate directly on all issues," Rudiantara said. "Telegram also promised to create a script, a small piece of software, that would filter content directly on the platform," he added. Almost immediately after, Telegram’s problems in Indonesia were resolved, and the web version was unblocked.
However, this time, it seems Durov won’t be able to fly in for lunch with the minister. Whether the Telegram team can resolve the issues with the Indonesian government without their leader remains to be seen.
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