Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) has issued a directive to telecom companies, instructing them to temporarily block Telegram in an attempt to curb exam cheating. The CA is particularly concerned about students using the platform to share exam answers during critical hours, from 7:00–10:00 am and 1:00–4:00 pm on weekdays. This action is expected to last until November 22.
On Friday, Internet monitoring group Netblocks confirmed that the disruption was notably visible on Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecom provider, and bore similarities to previous restrictions. In 2023, a similar ban led to significant financial losses, with businesses reportedly losing up to KSh 4.2 billion due to connectivity disruptions.
The CA’s letter, sent on October 31 to major telecom providers like Safaricom, Telkom Kenya, and Airtel Kenya, highlighted Telegram’s failure to collaborate with authorities in combating exam malpractice. Despite this, Telegram has grown to nearly 1 billion users worldwide, praised for its privacy features and expansive group chat capabilities which often causes clashes with government regulations globally.
The Growing Tension Between Privacy and Government Control
Telegram, despite its efforts to maintain privacy, updated its policies in September 2024 to allow law enforcement access to user IP addresses and phone numbers for criminal investigations. This shift followed the arrest of its founder, Pavel Durov, in France.
Kenya’s stance on regulating Telegram is not isolated. The country has attempted such measures yearly, hoping to prevent exam malpractice. However, Telegram continues to be a preferred platform for free communication, despite these periodic interruptions.
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One reply on “Telegram Faces Temporary Shutdown in Kenya Over Exam Cheating Concerns”
[…] Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) which was last in the news when it suspended the services of Telegram temporarily in the country, has expressed concern about this trend, highlighting the impact of subpar services on […]