India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, on recommendations by the National Testing Agency, ordered a temporary nationwide restriction on Telegram until June 22.

It also told the messaging platform to disable message editing in India until June 30 before the June 21 National Eligibility Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, re-test.

The order relies on Section 69A of India’s Information Technology Act, which uses central government blocking procedures and has been used to block entire platforms, not just specific posts or channels.

NTA, which administers NEET-UG, said cheating rackets were using Telegram to sell fake exam papers and spread misinformation.

It also said edited messages had been used to fabricate evidence of exam paper leaks after tests.

The re-test follows a paper leak scandal in an exam that 2.28 million candidates took on May 3.

The controversy prompted a Central Bureau of Investigation probe and the June 21 re-test.

The Internet Freedom Foundation said the move was disproportionate.

🔗 Source: TechCrunch

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