India ‘proactively monitoring’ Telegram over illegal content concerns: Report

The Indian government is actively monitoring activity on Telegram amid concerns that the messaging platform is being used to circulate illegal content and facilitate cybercrime, according to a Reuters report citing a government investigation.The findings are part of a 35-page report prepared by the Home Ministry’s Cybercrime Coordination Centre, which was submitted in court during proceedings related to a temporary ban on the platform earlier this month.According to the report, Telegram has been used extensively for sharing child sexual abuse material and carrying out financial scams. It noted that authorities are closely tracking activity on the platform. “Cyber criminals use Telegram to access closed groups/channels … (India) is proactively monitoring such Telegram groups and channels,” the report stated.The government highlighted concerns over Telegram’s privacy features, particularly the ability for users to interact without revealing phone numbers, which makes identifying individuals more difficult compared to platforms like WhatsApp.The report was submitted as part of the government’s defence of a one-week ban imposed on Telegram following allegations that a medical entrance exam question paper had been leaked through the platform. While the ban has since been lifted, restrictions remain—such as disabling the feature that allows editing of older messages until June 30.Read more: Telegram restored on Play Store after temporary India block during NEET-UG re-examIn the same case, Telegram was accused of not doing enough to prevent misinformation and misuse of its channels, an allegation the company has denied.India is Telegram’s largest market, with over 150 million users, making regulatory scrutiny of the platform particularly significant.The developments come amid increasing global scrutiny of Telegram. Authorities in France launched a probe into organised crime activity on the app in 2024, while the platform also faced criticism in South Korea over deepfake content and was temporarily restricted in Spain over copyright concerns.Additionally, in April, the UK’s communications regulator opened an investigation into whether the platform was being used to distribute illegal content, including child sexual abuse material.Telegram has denied the allegations and has said it has taken steps to curb illegal activity, stating that it has “virtually eliminated” the public spread of child sexual abuse material through detection tools and moderation systems.Reuters reported that Telegram and India’s Home Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report.Also read: Telegram’s ad business: How the messaging app makes money