TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Communications and Information Ministry has indicated that they may lift the bans on mobile messaging app Telegram.
Ministry’s spokesperson Noor Iza said that there were around 45 controversial channels shut down by the app administrators in order to fulfill the demands from the Ministry.
Read: Telegram Obeys Indonesia; Blocks Terror Content
“They have taken down the channels that we requested to be taken down. This will lift the app’s ban,” said Noor Iza on Thursday, August 10.
Despite the statement, the Ministry has yet to release an official announcement regarding the decision.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov last week said that he would immediately block contents related to terrorism in the app. Durov revealed that a special team had been formed to communicate with the Indonesian government.
Read: Telegram Promises to Quickly Block Terrorism Content
Prior to the formation of the team, Telegram needed 36 hours to freeze terrorist-affiliated channels. Now they claim that it will only need four hours to do the same task.
Previously, Durov traveled to Indonesia to personally meet with Rudiantara to discuss the bans on Telegram. The messaging app was banned after several complaints from the Indonesian government was not responded to.
GHOIDA RAHMAH | PUTRI THALIAH | HUSSEIN ABRI