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Telegram Is More Than a Messaging App. It’s Become the New Deep Web

A recent report finds that the platform is as a widely used resource for selling weapons and drugs and disseminating violent or toxic content.

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The scandal surrounding Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in recent weeks has put his platform under an intense magnifying glass. It’s becoming evident that Telegram serves a much broader purpose than just being an instant messaging app.

The deep web. On one side, there’s the Internet we all know and love, which is easily accessible through regular browsers and apps. Then, there’s the deep web, which is home to questionable and dangerous content, such as the sale of false documents, drugs, and weapons. The deep web isn’t so easily accessible, but Telegram has become a gateway to this hidden part of the Internet.

Terrorists, extremists, and criminals on Telegram. A four-month investigation by The New York Times reveals that Telegram has become a “playground for criminals, extremists and terrorists.” The newspaper analyzed more than 3.2 million messages from 16,000 channels, uncovering how the platform provides these groups with tools to “organize at scale and to sidestep scrutiny from the authorities.”

For instance, Hamas has used some channels on Telegram to propagate violent content, prompting Telegram to take measures to restrict this type of content in recent months. In contrast, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube have completely banned accounts associated with Hamas and any posts that excessively support the organization.

Guns and drugs are prevalent. According to the report, there are 1,500 channels where far-right groups coordinate activities involving nearly a million people worldwide. Additionally, there are at least two dozen channels selling weapons and another 22 channels with around 70,000 followers accessing the sale of drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

Counterfeit documentation. The Wall Street Journal conducted another investigation revealing that Telegram became a marketplace for fake identity documents, including passports or identity documents that allowed for opening bank accounts in the victims’ names. The channel involved in this activity was shut down after the newspaper contacted Telegram.

Freedom of expression as a motto. All this has turned Telegram into a widely used resource for radical groups. According to The New York Times, the platform has often operated “as if it were above the law.” Durov stated on his Telegram channel that “If it were solely up to us, we would always provide our users with what they ask for: uncensored access to information and opinions to make their own decisions.”

A lack of moderation. Telegram, based in Dubai, operates as a startup with 60 employees. Despite hiring 100 moderators, the company has been ignoring requests from law enforcement agencies in various countries for assistance in investigating potential crimes.

Durov’s defense. The Telegram CEO recently made a post on his Telegram account, the first since his arrest. He emphasized that accusations of Telegram being an “anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue” and stated that the company deletes millions of harmful posts and channels every day. Additionally, Telegram officials told The New York Times that “99.999% of Telegram have nothing to do with crime,” but acknowledged that there’s still much work to be done, and they’re working to improve the platform’s features and moderation.

Image | Christian Wiediger

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