TEHRAN – The National Center on Cyberspace of Iran has passed a regulation which bans state as well as public organizations from using social apps to communicate formal messages.

Issued on Monday, the regulation is intended at safeguarding Iran’s national and religious identity, prevent crime, and protect privacy of entities, according to the center’s website.

The most widely used social app in Iran is Telegram. Official reports have said up to 60 percent of the country’s internet traffic goes through Telegram.

SP/PA