Internet Shutdowns

Government of Iraq banned Telegram, an instant messaging service, on Iraq networks from the 5 August 2023. The Ministry of Telecommunication in the country issued a statement that upper authorities connected to national security mandated blocking access to the service.

The blocking is apparent on all Iraqi networks except AS206206 – Kurdistan Net Company for Computer and Internet Ltd. On August 14, the government stated that they have reached an agreement where the company complied to the government requests, Telegram access to the service was restored as a result.

Official statement: https://moc.gov.iq/?article=454

Translation:

The Ministry of Communications draws the attention of users of the Internet in Iraq, that the blocking of the (Telegram) application came based on the directives of higher authorities for determinants related to national security, in order to preserve the personal data of citizens, with which the aforementioned application violated the integrity of handling, in violation of the law.

The relevant state institutions have repeatedly asked the company concerned with managing the aforementioned application to cooperate in closing channels that leak data of official state institutions and the personal data of citizens, which poses a threat to Iraqi national security and societal peace, but the company did not respond and did not act on any of these requests.

The Ministry of Communications affirms its respect for citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and communication, without prejudice to the security of the state and its institutions, and expresses its confidence in citizens’ understanding of this measure.