India’s Telegram ban hit the UAE too. Here’s how to get around it
India’s Telegram ban hit the UAE too. Here’s how to get around it
Publish Date: 2026-06-17 09:12:45
Source Domain: www.bleepingcomputer.com
India’s Ban on Telegram Sparks Controversy and Tech Disruption
India has temporarily banned Telegram, the popular messaging platform, until June 22, in response to its use in selling leaked exam materials for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The move follows reports of exam papers being leaked via WhatsApp and Telegram before the May exam, prompting the cancelation of the test and the subsequent scheduling of a retake. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology invoked Section 69A of the IT Act for this ban. However, digital rights group Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) contends that the ban is constitutionally incompatible and disproportionate. To prevent cheating, India also demanded Telegram disable its message-editing feature within the country until June 30, though this has sparked legal challenges from Telegram at the Delhi High Court. Additionally, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov alleges that an Indian telecom, Reliance, used BGP hijacking tactics to widen the block beyond India’s borders, affecting users in the UAE as well. Though technical experts acknowledge the routing anomaly, they refute Durov’s assertion of deliberate sabotage. For users affected by the global impact, Telegram provides MTProto proxies as a workaround for regaining access while emphasizing the importance of using trusted proxy services.
Key Points:
- India banned Telegram until June 22 to combat exam fraud.
- Telegram restricts message editing in India until June 30 as part of the ban.
- Durov accuses Indian telco of intentionally disrupting Telegram globally through BGP hijacking.
- Legal challenges to the ban are pending at the Delhi High Court.
- Telegram supports users impacted by internet censorship with MTProto proxy access.
