Iran joins Russia in banning Telegram app

Recently, following Russia’s ban on the Telegram app, Iran has banned Telegram after claiming the app encourages ‘armed uprisings’. Mizan, the Iranian judiciary, blocked Telegram’s license to operate in Iran, saying that the app was used for illegal activities. Iranians are being encouraged to use domestic alternatives to Telegram, such as Soroush. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have already been blocked, and President Rouhani had previously promised to keep Telegram free. Human Rights Watch called the blockage ‘an unjustifiable restriction on freedom of expression and access to information’.