BAGHDAD: The Iraqi government on Sunday said it was suspending the popular Telegram messaging application across the country on “national security” grounds, drawing criticism on channels close to pro-Iran factions.
The service was effectively blocked by midday on Sunday, with new messages not loading for users in Baghdad. The application was still accessible to users connected using a VPN. Iraq’s ministry of communications said the suspension was necessary to “protect the personal data of citizens, which is violated by the application”. The government said Telegram “did not respond” to its requests to address the issue of “data leakage from state institutions and individuals, which poses a threat to national security and social peace.”