Intelligence suggests that illegal gambling operators have migrated their businesses to the platform, which is also allegedly being used to distribute explicit pornographic content. Essentially, the platform has become a "safe haven" for illicit activities that remain beyond the immediate reach of government oversight.

Aguda admitted that the government faces significant difficulties in coordinating with Telegram’s management, making it hard to enforce local laws on the platform. In contrast, DICT has previously met with officials from Meta Platforms to address crimes on its social media services. Aguda emphasized that cybercrime is evolving rapidly, and regulatory bodies must upgrade their strategies to tackle modern challenges posed by encrypted communications.

At present, the Philippine government has not reached a final decision, and assessments are still ongoing. If a ban is implemented, it would have a widespread impact on Telegram's large user base in the country, affecting everything from personal chats to community operations. For illegal operators, a ban might force them to seek new platforms to evade oversight.