- India’s investigation into Telegram for extortion and gambling could lead to the platform being blocked in the country.
- Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov was detained in France over allegations of enabling illegal activities on the messaging platform.
- The Indian government has intensified scrutiny on Telegram, citing issues like copyright infringement and the spread of illegal content.
The Indian government has initiated an investigation into Telegram for alleged extortion and gambling activities. This comes just a day after French authorities detained the platform’s CEO, Pavel Durov.
The probe, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), raises the possibility of Telegram being blocked in India, according to a government official familiar with the situation.
Durov was arrested at a French airport on August 25 as part of a larger investigation into criminal activities allegedly facilitated by Telegram, including money laundering and drug trafficking. French authorities assert that these illegal activities have been allowed to continue due to insufficient moderation on the platform. Durov’s detention marks a significant escalation in the scrutiny facing Telegram, which has been criticized for its handling of illegal content.
In response to Durov’s arrest, Telegram released a statement on X, stating that their CEO has “nothing to hide” and that the platform complies with all applicable EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. The company emphasized that it’s “absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for [the] abuse of that platform.” Despite this, the legal pressures on Telegram are increasing.
Telegram has a history of association with criminal activities. In 2019, South Korean authorities uncovered an online sex ring operating on the platform, where over 70 women, including minors, were forced into producing sexual content. This content was then sold in Telegram chat rooms, as reported by the Korean Herald. The incident exposed significant security flaws on the platform, raising global concern over its use by criminals.
Beyond these incidents, Telegram has faced intense examination in India for the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). In October 2023, MeitY issued a notice to Telegram and other social media platforms, demanding the removal of CSAM from their services in India. This action came after an inquiry by the Economic Times, which prompted senior IT ministry officials to address the growing worries around CSAM on Telegram.
Additionally, Telegram has also been a hub for copyright infringement. Media organizations like India Today Group and Jagaran Prakashan, as well as educational institutions like Allen and Made Easy, have filed lawsuits against the platform for the unlawful distribution of copyrighted materials.
As the Indian government’s investigation continues, the future of Telegram in one of its largest markets remains uncertain.
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