Indian government has slapped a nationwide ban on messaging app Telegram over concerns it's enabling exam fraud . National Testing Agency (NTA) Director-General Abhishek Singh said officials had warned Telegram about misuse of features,notably message-editing.
Since June 15, Electronics and Information Technology Ministry blocked Telegram until June 22,also ordering suspension of message-editing for Indian users till June 30. All this happening as NEET re-exam looms on June 21. Aim? Stop false info on paper leaks from panicking students.
Singh noted Telegram had been repeatedly asked to fix its editing features and group naming filters. But nothing changed. He explained how bad actors use Telegram to fake leaked exam papers by manipulating timestamps. Admins upload misleading docs days before exams, then swap them with real questions,fooling users into thinking leaks happened earlier .
“After ban,Telegram founder Pavel Durov said on X they’re making ‘edited’ label more visible to prevent backdating scams. But change still not visible on app,” Singh stated.
Singh slammed Telegram for letting groups with names like “Paper Leak NEET Mafia” thrive, stressing platform must comply with regulations. He worried lack of naming filters and anonymity features makes Telegram hub for illegal activities like fraud and paper leaks .
Ban has ignited debate among experts over balancing exam integrity with digital freedoms. Manindra Agarwal, Director of IIT-Kanpur,saw ban as necessary to fight misinformation. But cybersecurity experts like Nisarga Adhikary warned against blanket bans,arguing they might drive offenders to harder-to-monitor platforms, complicating matters.
Adhikary said demanding instant changes to Telegram’s core functions isn't practical. Telegram keeps edit timestamps on servers,but accessing needs legal channels. Legal experts suggested a more targeted strategy,like limiting specific features during exam times,could be more effective and legally sound.
Monalisa Nanda, team manager at Centre for Law, Policy and Governance,proposed temporary restrictions on message-editing during exams to protect public interest while keeping platform functional for regular users . Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) slammed government’s actions as overreach,arguing ban punishes ordinary users relying on Telegram for study groups and resources as they prep for exams .
IFF demanded transparency on government’s reasons behind ban and NTA's advice. They urged clarification of legal basis for disabling message-editing or its withdrawal entirely. Organization stressed blanket ban doesn't tackle root causes of exam fraud, just distracts from systemic issues in exam process…
