Iraq government blocks messaging app Telegram over alleged national security fears

Iraq’s Ministry of Communications announced Sunday that it had blocked the messaging app Telegram, citing national security concerns. The announcement claimed that this restriction was being enforced to preserve the integrity of users’ personal data, which it said the app had mishandled.

The Ministry of Communications in their announcement stated that this ban followed guidance from “higher authorities” to determine national security. They argued that the communications platform violated safety, in a manner which was against the law. The statement blamed Telegram for alleged failures to respond to co-operation requests, noting:

The state institutions, related, have repeatedly asked, from the company responsible for managing the mentioned application, to cooperate in closing the platforms that cause the leakage of data from official state institutions and personal data of citizens, which poses a danger to the Iraqi national security and the social ladder, but the company did not respond or react to any of those requests.

In closing, the Ministry of Communications stated that it respects the rights of citizens in relation to freedom of expression and communication, but that they were unwilling to compromise state security. Finally, they expressed, “confidence in citizens’ understanding of this action.”

Telegram, an encrypted instant-messaging app, is popular in the region, and has been utilized by politicians, official government ministries, and as a source of news content. The app has also been linked to militia activity across the region, with media coverage stating that, “Experts say the app has been crucial in allowing some paramilitary groups to publicize their attacks, including on military bases hosting coalition troops fighting ISIS remnants.”

This ban follows a recent trend in the region of restricting freedom of speech in online spaces. In March, many international organizations released a Joint Statement on the topic of free speech in Iraq, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. In it, they argued:

Under international human rights law, including Article 19 of the ICCPR which Iraq has ratified, the right to freedom of expression is recognized as a fundamental human right […] Iraqi authorities have an abhorrent track record of repressing the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly […] Iraqis should be free to express themselves on social media platforms […] These are behaviors protected by international human rights law, which Iraqi authorities are obligated to uphold.

Source: jurist