India's Telegram Ban Hits UAE Users
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has banned Telegram until June 22, citing the platform's use in selling access to leaked exam materials. However, the ban has had unintended consequences, with users in the UAE also losing access to the platform due to BGP hijacking.
Accusations of Sabotage
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has accused Indian telecom Reliance of using BGP hijacking to enforce the block, disrupting access for users outside India. Durov claims that the hijack was deliberate, but network analysts dispute this, saying it was likely a misconfigured domestic block that leaked globally.
Doug Madory, Director of Internet Analysis at Kentik, confirmed that AS18101 hijacked Telegram's routes, but noted that RPKI route-origin validation and filtering limited the propagation of the bad route. Network researcher Anurag Bhatia independently verified the hijack, and technology policy researcher Pranesh Prakash traced the mechanics of the leak.
Impact on Users
The ban has had a significant impact on users in India and the UAE, with many relying on Telegram for study groups, coaching, and other services. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has objected to the ban, saying it is disproportionate and fails the proportionality test.
IFF argues that the directions exceed what Section 69A and the blocking rules actually permit, and that the move is a band-aid that fails to address the underlying issue of exam fraud. The organization also notes that Section 69A blocking orders in India are routinely issued without public reasons, and that the list of blocked sites is not disclosed.
How to Get Around the Ban
Telegram has built-in support for routing traffic around network-level censorship using its MTProto proxy feature. Users can point their app at a working MTProto proxy and restore access without a full VPN. There are public proxy lists maintained for this purpose, including StormyCloud and the SoliSpirit project on GitHub.
- In the menu, open Settings, and select Advanced.
- Under Data and storage, click Connection type at the top of the panel.
- In Proxy settings, select Use custom proxy, then click Add proxy.
- Enter the MTProto server, port and secret from your chosen proxy source.
For mobile users, the path is Settings > Data and Storage > Proxy (iOS) or Settings > Data and Storage > Proxy Settings (Android), then Add Proxy > MTProto and enter the same server, port and secret.
Conclusion
The ban on Telegram is set to lift on June 22, but users can still access the platform using an MTProto proxy. The incident highlights the need for transparency and accountability in internet governance, and the importance of protecting users' rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
As mentioned, the proxy you choose is only as trustworthy as its operator.
The incident also raises questions about the role of telecom companies in enforcing internet censorship, and the need for greater scrutiny of their actions. As the use of BGP hijacking and other forms of internet censorship continues to grow, it is essential that users, policymakers, and telecom companies work together to protect the integrity of the internet and promote human rights.
Source: BleepingComputer