Telegram is the second most popular messaging app in India after WhatApp. However, in light of recent discussions about Telegram, the messaging app may face a ban in the country. This is because Telegram has come under scrutiny for allegedly being used in various illegal activities, ranging from paper leaks and child pornography to stock price manipulation.
Cyber experts and law enforcement officials have even compared Telegram to the dark web due to its role in facilitating these illicit actions. Hence, Telegraph is now under the government’s close watch, for its alleged involvement in facilitating criminal activities.
Concerns in India escalated when Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was detained in France on August 24. The investigation is currently underway. Durov is being investigated for failing to address criminal activities on his platform, including the spread of child sexual abuse material—a concern that also resonates in India. Moreover, Telegram has also been linked to facilitating various scams and frauds in the country.
On August 26, the prosecutor in Paris announced that the investigation into Pavel Durov includes charges related to illegal transactions, child pornography, fraud, and failure to report these activities to the concerned authorities. In response, Telegram reiterated its stance, stating, “It is absurd to say that a platform or its owner should be held responsible for misuse of that platform.” Telegram’s user base has grown from 550 million in 2022 to 950 million users today.
On July 24, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) busted an ongoing share price fluctuation incident through the Telegram app. A Telegram group admin was accused of taking a commission of Rs 20 lakh for manipulating the share prices of a steel sheet manufacturing company.
According to a media report, on May 3, two men from Bhopal were arrested for allegedly cheating a local doctor of Rs 38 lakh. They had used Telegram to pose as a police officer and made fake interrogations to carry out the scam.
On June 19, the UGC-NET exam, which had around 900,000 applicants, was canceled a day after it was conducted due to a question paper leak on Telegram. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “We matched the questions with the original UGC-NET questions and they matched…”
Similarly on May 3, several NEET-UG applicants reportedly received question papers before the exam, leading to a big row in the country, prompting an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation and intervention by the Supreme Court.
The central government has not publicly announced any major action against Telegram. However, there is a rising demand for strict regulations and monitoring due to rampant illegal activities that are being carried out on this platform.
The government is closely monitoring the activities of Telegram and has been expressing concern over its involvement in illegal activities. At the same time, like other social media platforms, there are suggestions to impose strict rules on the content shared on Telegram.
Indian agencies are working to identify those involved in illegal activities using Telegram and bring them to the legal process. The government is raising awareness about the risks of using Telegram for illegal activities and encouraging users to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
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