India curbs Telegram use over medical exam fraud concerns
Key takeaways
- The government said it was restricting access to the Telegram platform in India for a defined and limited period.
- Activists have said the provision is used to curb free speech, though Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government says it always acts in compliance with the law and in the public interest.
- The government has scheduled a fresh examination for June 21.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize NEW DELHI: India has blocked the Telegram messaging app until June 22, saying the platform has been used to “defraud candidates” taking a national medical entrance examination, the Ministry of Education said in a statement on Tuesday.
The government said it was restricting access to the Telegram platform in India for a defined and limited period. The restriction was issued under a stringent provision of the IT law, which empowers the government to block access to online sites in the “interest of sovereignty and integrity of India”.
Activists have said the provision is used to curb free speech, though Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government says it always acts in compliance with the law and in the public interest.