Global Scrutiny of Telegram: What's Happening and Why It Matters
Telegram, a popular messaging app, is facing increasing scrutiny around the world. While France has already taken action against the app, other countries, including India, are now raising alarms. The concerns mainly revolve around the app’s potential misuse for illegal activities such as extortion, gambling, and more.
Investigations in India
India is currently investigating Telegram due to allegations that it’s being used for criminal activities. The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) are leading this probe. There’s even talk that India might ban the app if the investigation confirms these suspicions.
One specific issue that has caught the authorities' attention is the recent controversy surrounding the national eligibility test (NEET), an exam crucial for students aiming to enter medical schools. Allegedly, the exam questions were leaked on Telegram and sold for prices ranging between 5,000 and 10,000 rupees. This leak led to widespread student protests and even caught the attention of the Supreme Court.
Previous Actions Against Telegram in India
India’s concern with Telegram isn’t new. Back in October, the Ministry of Electronics and IT issued warnings to several social media platforms, including Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube. They were told to remove any content related to child sexual abuse or face legal consequences. These warnings were backed by the Information Technology (IT) Act 2000, which imposes strict penalties for sharing obscene or pornographic material online.
Given these developments, it’s clear that India shares France’s worries about Telegram. Recently, France arrested Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, as part of an investigation into crimes involving child sexual abuse images, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on the platform.
Telegram’s Defense and Russia’s Response
Telegram has defended its CEO, stating that he "has nothing to hide" and regularly travels to Europe. The company, which is based in Dubai, emphasized that it complies with all relevant European Union laws, including the Digital Services Act. They also argued that it’s unreasonable to hold a platform or its owner responsible for the actions of its users.
Russia, where Durov was born, has also weighed in. The Kremlin warned France against trying to intimidate Durov, who holds multiple citizenships, including Russian, French, Emirati, and one from St. Kitts and Nevis. A Kremlin spokesperson stated that the charges against Durov are serious and should be backed by strong evidence, otherwise, it could be seen as an attempt to restrict freedom of communication and intimidate the head of a major company.
Growing Concerns in the European Union
Telegram is also under scrutiny in the European Union. In Lithuania, police have set up special units to monitor the app and other platforms to combat drug trafficking. Similarly, Dutch police have reported difficulties in cooperating with Telegram after journalists discovered millions of messages offering drugs on the platform.
EU officials are also skeptical of Telegram's claim that it has just under 41 million monthly active users in the region. If true, this figure would keep the app below the threshold for the strictest regulations that apply to larger platforms like Facebook and Twitter (now X). Despite this, some EU leaders, like Vĕra Jourová, Vice President of the European Commission, have expressed concern, noting that even smaller platforms can cause significant harm, especially in eastern EU countries where Telegram is particularly popular.
As the EU continues to investigate Telegram, it’s becoming evident that more countries might follow France’s lead in seeking to regulate content on encrypted platforms like Telegram.