Kenya has restored access to Telegram, a month after directing mobile operators to block the chat platform due to allegations of misuse for criminal activities, including exam cheating. Telegram, which had 950 million active monthly users as of July 2024, was suspended in October following a directive from the Communications Authority (CA), the country’s communications regulator.
Rogue users exploit Telegram to create private channels for distributing illegal content and bypassing stricter moderation on other platforms. These channels have been used to share leaked exam papers for a fee and undermine Kenya’s Ministry of Education and its efforts to combat exam malpractice.
The CA accused Telegram of failing to address concerns about its platform being used for exam malpractice. In 2023 and 2024, the regulator first directed carriers to block Telegram during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams to protect their integrity.
This weekend, the ban was lifted after the exams concluded on Friday.
“Whereas all other social media platforms operating in Kenya have taken steps to address misuse of their platforms, we note with dismay that Telegram Inc. has remained non-responsive and continues to host offending forums and channels in blatant breach of the laws of the land and the general principles of Data Protection and Privacy,” the CA told telcos, including Airtel Kenya, Safaricom, and Telkom Kenya on October 31.
On November 1, AccessNow, a digital rights nonprofit, questioned the government’s directive to block Telegram despite claiming in June that it wouldn’t shut down internet traffic.
Telegram has been adamant about responding to government requests related to exam malpractice. A source at the CA who wished not to be named so they could speak freely said, “No, they don’t. Telegram ignores nearly all legal requests, doesn’t respond to letters from agencies, and forces governments to chase them down.”
While the operators complied, Kenyans circumvented the block by accessing the app using virtual private networks (VPNs).
Telegram’s minimal content moderation, privacy features, and decentralised approach make it hard to shut down illegal channels or comply with government requests. Despite claiming to prioritise user anonymity and free speech, it often resists local regulations and operates across jurisdictions with varying laws, complicating enforcement.
However, this might soon change, as Telegram will share users’ IP addresses and phone numbers with authorities with valid warrants. Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov said the move targets a small fraction of criminals tarnishing the platform’s reputation. The decision to allow governments access to this information was a U-turn for Durov, who was detained by French authorities in August.
