The messaging app Telegram may face a potential ban in India as the government investigates its alleged misuse in criminal activities, including extortion and gambling. The probe, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has raised concerns about the app’s role in facilitating illegal activities. This investigation comes at a time when Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in Paris on August 24, 2024, further intensifying scrutiny around the platform.
Telegram, known for its encrypted messaging service, has become popular globally, especially in India, where it has a vast user base. However, it has also been criticized for its lack of robust content moderation, allowing nefarious activities like money laundering, drug trafficking, and sharing illegal content. These concerns have triggered the Indian government’s investigation, which could potentially lead to the platform being banned depending on the probe’s outcome.
The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) is focusing on the app’s peer-to-peer (P2P) communication features, which are believed to facilitate criminal transactions. Telegram has been previously involved in controversies, including the leak of the UGC-NEET exam papers, which were allegedly circulated on the app, resulting in significant financial losses for Indian students and parents.
Telegram’s defense emphasizes its commitment to privacy and encryption, which it views as essential to protecting free speech. However, with the rising tide of government scrutiny and its association with criminal activities, the app faces increasing pressure to comply with regulatory demands or face a ban in India, one of its largest markets.
India is not the only country grappling with Telegram’s moderation challenges. In 2022, Germany fined the app $5 million for failing to report illegal content, and Brazil temporarily banned the platform in 2023 for not cooperating with investigations into neo-Nazi activities.
As the Indian government investigates further, the future of Telegram in the country remains uncertain. If the platform does not address these concerns adequately, it could face the same fate as other banned apps, particularly given the government’s history of imposing restrictions on platforms that fail to comply with local laws(Outlook Business)
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