Telegram, Indonesian gov’t work together against terrorism to keep app accessible

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Following Indonesia’s ban on the web version of the messaging app Telegram, the company has drawn a solution addressing concerns that the app enables terrorist communication.

Through a special communication line, authorities will be able to alert Telegram to remove content in relation to terrorism, reports The Jakarta Post.

CEO Pavel Durov met with communications and information minister Rudiantara earlier this week to ensure that the government could clamp down on terrorist activities on the application.

According to Durov, blocking accounts that spread terrorism is now faster, which previously took 24 to 36 hours. The company also hired Indonesian-speaking employees so that accounts conducting illegal activity could be blocked within hours.

The app allows for encrypted messages to provide privacy to its users. However, this has become a tool for international terrorist group ISIS for years.

Following its ban in the country in July 14, several users complained that the ban seemed to point towards censorship.

After talks with Durov, the Communications and Information Ministry’s director general for information applications, Samuel Abrijani Pangerapan said, “We hope this week we will unblock the application.” Niña V. Guno/JB

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