Iraqs Ministry of Telecommunications announced its decision to lift the ban on the popular messaging app Telegram on Sunday, which was imposed earlier this week due to security concerns and the reported leakage of sensitive data from official state institutions and citizens.Telegram has gained widespread popularity in Iraq, serving as not only a messaging platform but also as a significant source of news and content sharing. While the app has proven to be a convenient communication tool for Iraqis, it has also become a repository for vast amounts of personal data, including personal information like names, addresses, and family connections of citizens.The Iraqi Ministry of Communications announced it will remove the ban on the Telegram application in Iraq on 13 August. “The Ministry of Communications draws the attention of dear citizens that it will lift the ban on the Telegram application in Iraq, starting tomorrow, Sunday pic.twitter.com/zO5EN8FQVA— Iraqi Qahwa كهوة عراقية (@IraqiQahwa) August 12, 2023“The company that owns the [Telegram] platform responded to the requirements of the security authorities that called on the company to disclose the entities that leaked citizens data,” the Ministry said, explaining its decision to revoke the ban.The ministry also acknowledged that the company “expressed its full readiness to communicate with the relevant authorities…”Telegram reiterates strong privacy stance amid Iraq fiascoTelegrams press team told the news agency Reuters that the company emphasised a strong stance on privacy and data protection.“Posting private data without consent is forbidden by Telegrams terms of service and such content is routinely removed by our moderators,” a member of Telegrams press team said.“We can confirm that our moderators took down several channels sharing personal data. However, we can also confirm that no private user data was requested from Telegram and that none has been shared.”The latest development comes after the Iraqi Ministry of Telecommunications told last week that Telegram did not respond to its request to shut down the platforms that leak personal and sensitive data.
