The authorities in Amsterdam have banned Amsterdam’s officials from using the Telegram application on their work phones, citing concerns over its frequent use for criminal activities and the risk of it being exploited for espionage purposes, as reported by the Dutch radio station BNR. City representatives described Telegram as a “safe haven for hackers, cybercriminals, and drug dealers.” Despite the app no longer having official ties to Russia, the city remains concerned about potential espionage activities.

Why is telegram banned in (Netherland) Amsterdam’s officials?

Telegram, originally founded in Russia, is now headquartered in Dubai and is officially registered in the British Virgin Islands. According to BNR, while no other municipalities in the Netherlands have banned Telegram, concerns about the app are widespread across the country. In recent years, the app has been in the Dutch news for its use in drug and firearm trafficking, child pornography, and the recruitment of young people for violent activities.

Earlier this year, the Dutch parliament discussed a potential ban on the use of Telegram, but the then-Minister of Justice, Dilan Yesilgoz, argued that such a move would be an excessive infringement on free speech.

Reasons for banning the use of Telegram

In 2022, the AIVD, the Dutch intelligence agency, warned of espionage threats related to apps originating from countries developing offensive cyber programs, such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. The Ministry of the Interior has compiled a list of the “most risky” apps that are prohibited on government officials’ work phones.

What about other applications?

In 2023, Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported that this list includes the Russian app VKontakte, as well as Chinese shopping apps Temu and AliExpress.

Telegram, with nearly 1 billion users worldwide, including about 2 million in the Netherlands, is the largest app to be banned by Dutch authorities since the national government prohibited the use of TikTok on government officials’ phones last year.

Amsterdam’s officials banned from using the Telegram application.