Anonymity shields betting rings, the DICT says.
The Philippines.- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is weighing a potential nationwide ban on Telegram in the Philippines due to its growing use for illegal online gambling. Secretary Henry Aguda told DZRH’s Dos Por Dos that illicit gambling networks were migrating to the app due to its anonymity features.
Telegram users can mask phone numbers with usernames and run multiple profiles on a single device, creating a “secretive” environment that shields operators from detection, Aguda said. He added that coordination with Telegram’s Dubai-based management had proven “difficult,” complicating takedown efforts. No final decision has been made.
The DICT is collaborating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to tackle illegal gambling. It’s also held meetings with Meta over scams and deepfakes.
Anonymity shields betting rings, the DICT says. The Philippines.- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is weighing a potential nationwide ban on Telegram in the Philippines due to its growing use for illegal online gambling. Secretary Henry Aguda told DZRH’s Dos Por Dos that illicit gambling networks were migrating to the app due…
