Telegram, the popular messaging app, could soon be banned in India as reports suggest the platform is being used to facilitate illegal activities, including gambling. The Indian government has launched an investigation into these allegations.
With nearly a billion users worldwide, Telegram has become one of the most important messaging applications worldwide. Its success is largely attributed to its minimal content moderation. However, this hands-off approach is now putting the app at risk of being banned in India and has led to the arrest of its CEO in France.
Ongoing investigation in India
The Indian government is currently investigating whether Telegram is enabling users to organise illegal activities such as extortion and gambling. Depending on the outcome, the app may be banned in the country. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), along with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), are jointly conducting this investigation. A potential ban could affect millions of Indian users.
Recently, Telegram has come under scrutiny for its alleged role in the leak of national medical exam papers. These question papers for a major medical entrance test were reportedly sold on the platform for amounts ranging from $60 to $120, leading to student protests and intervention by the Supreme Court. In October 2023, the Indian government also forced Telegram to remove illegal content related to child exploitation.
Telegram CEO arrested in France
Meanwhile, French authorities have arrested Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, at a Paris airport over alleged offenses related to the messaging app, including fraud, the promotion of terrorism, drug trafficking, organised crime, and cyberbullying. The 39-year-old Russian-born entrepreneur was detained following a warrant issued by France’s Office for Preventing Violence Against Minors. Durov is accused of failing to adequately moderate content on the platform and not curbing its criminal misuse.
Telegram has defended itself, stating that it complies with EU laws, including content moderation standards. “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation,” reads a Telegram press release.
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