Indian Authorities Investigate Telegram Over Alleged Criminal Activities

• Indian authorities investigate Telegram for alleged involvement in criminal activities, including extortion and gambling operations.
• Telegram faces increased scrutiny after UGC-NEET exam paper leak and growing financial scams, sparking Supreme Court intervention.
• CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France over Telegram’s moderation failures intensifies concerns about the platform’s role in illegal activities.

The Indian government has initiated an investigation into Telegram, a messaging app with millions of users, due to concerns over its involvement in facilitating criminal activities, including extortion and gambling. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) are leading the probe, raising the potential for stricter regulation of the platform in India.

This comes as Telegram faces heightened scrutiny for its alleged role in several scams and criminal activities. These concerns have prompted Indian authorities to ramp up efforts to curb illegal operations conducted through the platform. Despite being compliant with India’s Information Technology (IT) Rules, Telegram’s lack of a local office complicates the regulation and enforcement of these rules within the country.

Concerns Over Criminal Activities Escalate

Telegram’s association with illegal activities in India has intensified, particularly after a major controversy involving the leak of the UGC-NEET exam paper on the platform. The paper, which was sold for prices ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, sparked widespread outrage and protests from students, culminating in the intervention of the Supreme Court. Moreover, the growing connection between Telegram and financial scams has resulted in significant monetary losses for citizens.

The ongoing investigation focuses on peer-to-peer (P2P) communications on Telegram, which authorities believe have been used to facilitate extortion and gambling. While the app’s compliance with IT rules requires the appointment of nodal and chief compliance officers, the lack of a physical presence in India continues to hinder law enforcement efforts.

Arrest of Telegram Founder Intensifies Scrutiny

The situation surrounding Telegram has been further complicated by the recent arrest of its founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, by French authorities. Durov was detained on August 24 at Bourget airport near Paris over allegations related to the app’s moderation failures, which allegedly enabled criminal activities on the platform. This arrest has raised concerns among Indian authorities, as Telegram’s management of illegal activities remains under scrutiny.

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In response to the arrest, Telegram issued a statement on August 26, claiming that Durov has nothing to hide and that he frequently travels across Europe. Despite the ongoing investigation, Telegram maintains that it remains a key communication tool for nearly a billion users worldwide.