Telegram’s Troubles Mount as UN Report Finds Platform’s Misuse as Underground Market

The United Nations (UN) has pointed out that Telegram has become a host for underground markets as powerful criminal networks in Southeast Asia use the social media platform to carry out large-scale illicit activity. The report released by the UN office for drugs and crime (UNODC) on Monday revealed tools used for cybercrime, including so-called deepfake software designed for fraud, and data-stealing malware is also widely sold, while unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges offer money laundering services are all traded on Telegram, according to Reuters. 

“There is strong evidence of underground data markets moving to Telegram and vendors actively looking to target transnational organised crime groups based in Southeast Asia,” UN said in its report. 

The report said that Southeast Asia has emerged as a major hub for a multibillion-dollar industry that targets victims across the world with fraudulent schemes. Additionally, it pointed out the presence of Chinese syndicates that operate from fortified compounds staffed by trafficked workers and generate revenue worth $27.4 billion to $36.5 billion on a yearly basis. 

“For consumers, this means their data is at a higher risk of being fed into scams or other criminal activity than ever before,” said UNODC’s deputy representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Benedikt Hofmann. 

The report has brought all eyes back on social media platform Telegram again. Earlier in August, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was arrested by the French police. The authorities accused him of failing to prevent illegal activities on the platform, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime, and the encouragement of terrorism. 

Durov was released on bail in September. Subsequently, he called out the French authorities and said that building technology is an uphill task. If innovators will be held personally liable for potential abuse of tools innovated by them, it would demotivate them to create something new. 

“Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach,” said Durov in a statement. 

Telegram’s new privacy policy to prevent misuse 

The 39-year-old founder announced major changes to ensure users’ privacy and tackle the concerns regarding illegal activities carried out on the platform. 

According to the new rules, Telegram will share the user’s IP address and data if suspected of illegal activities. Subsequently, if legal authorities find them guilty, the accounts will go through a legal analysis. Telegram has also started employing artificial intelligence to hide problematic content from its search results. 

Moreover, the company will publish quarterly transparency reports highlighting any instances of data sharing with law enforcement.