Telegram is a popular messaging app that has gained even more popularity at the end of 2020. However, it is also a controversial app as they keep their encryption keys completely private, not even sharing it with governments, which leads to having their app banned in certain countries.
In this oneHOWTO article we're going to tell you if Telegram is banned in India, which countries have banned Telegram and talk about how safe this app truly is. Keep reading to learn more about this messaging app!
Is Telegram banned in India?
No, Telegram is not banned in India, nor is it illegal. Therefore, whether you are in India or will travel to India, you will be able to continue using Telegram. In fact, Telegram is one of the most used messaging apps in India, along with Whatsapp and Snapchat.
You may also be interested in our article about why Telegram is better than Whatsapp.
Which countries banned Telegram
Telegram is currently banned in: Iran, China and Pakistan. It was banned in Iran in early 2018 after people organized a mass anti-government nationwide protest using this app. Iran has also blocked Facebook and thousands of other websites for political reasons.
China blocked Telegram in 2015, although some people continue to use it by using a VPN. Other websites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google and Youtube are also banned in China due to their Great Firewall.
Lastly, Pakistan banned Telegram in 2018 claiming that it was dangerous to allow this app into Pakistan. Just like in China, however, certain citizens continue to use Telegram through a VPN.
Many people also wonder if Telegram is banned in Russia. Although the Russian court blocked the app in April 2018, after Telegram refused to share its encryption keys, a means of accessing users' data for the government, today in 2021 Telegram is not banned in Russia as the government lifted the ban in July 2020 after a series of protests and legal procedures.
With that being said, Telegram is seeking to combat blocks on its service in Iran and China by shifting resources to develop anti-censorship tools for these countries after successfully overcoming their ban in Russia. So, you never know! Perhaps China and Iran will also lift their ban on Telegram.
Why is Telegram banned in these countries?
Well, the reasonings for banning Telegram in these countries seem to be due to “political reasons” and the fact that Telegram refuses to share their encryption keys to anyone in order to keep their users' conversations private. Most countries respect this, whereas others believe that the government should be able to read and process the users' data.
Is Telegram safe to use?
Yes Telegram is safe to use as it uses encryption and even offers end-to-end encryption by using Telegram's “secret chat” option. Here are some reasons why here at oneHOWTO we believe Telegram is safe when used properly:
- Telegram offers encryption and even end-to-end encryption.
- Telegram never shares their encryption keys to anyone, even governments.
- Telegram functions as a non-profit company and works based on donations, making it clear that they don't wish to share our data or make money with it. They simply want to provide us a safe messaging platform.
- Telegram is also user-friendly and offers a variety of features, such as self-destruct messages, schedules messages, silent messages, video calling and more.
- Lastly, you don't actually need a phone number to have a Telegram account.
Why do people consider Telegram dangerous?
Due to the fact that Telegram doesn't share their encryption keys with anyone, in order to keep their user's data completely private, certain users trust this app to communicate with others and carry out illegal processes.
However, we must remember that private data is a double-edged sword, where some may use it to safely communicate with friends and family, others may use it for illegal activity.
If you've downloaded Telegram and are wondering how to use some of its features, don't forget to check our our articles on how to find Telegram channels, how to create Telegram stickers or how to block someone on Telegram.
Alternative messaging app: Signal
In general, Telegram is as safe or safer than most other chat apps. Although it could be argued that WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption on all messaging is a better approach, the company’s ties to Facebook and their new 2021 privacy policy may turn off privacy advocates. This is why so many people are now opting for Telegram.
However, if you really want the most private and secure messaging app you should opt for Signal as it offers end-to-end encryption and ensures that their own company, Signal, your phone company, and even the government cannot read your messages.
Signal is also fully opensource, meaning it can be examined for vulnerabilities by security researchers, helping them improve and provide their users with the most secure and private messaging app available nowadays. Signal also does not offer a cloud back-up option, making your messages even more secure as the information is not being transferred anywhere else.
Although Signal is currently the most private and secure messaging app, it is a very simple messaging app that doesn't offer many features. It's evident that their main priority is to have very secure and private messages that are impossible to hack. Therefore, if your priority is to have a private messaging app, go for Signal. However, if you want to be able to talk to friends and family easily with lots of fun and useful features, go for Telegram.
Lastly, check our the video below where you can learn about the pros and cons of each of these messaging apps, Whatsapp vs. Telegram vs. Signal. This way you can find the best messaging app for you and your priorities!
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