Overview: Telegram, the second most popular messaging app in India after WhatsApp, is currently under intense scrutiny due to its alleged involvement in facilitating various illegal activities, including paper leaks, child pornography, and stock price manipulation.
Recent Developments:
- Detention of CEO Pavel Durov: Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, was detained in France on August 24 as part of an investigation into his platform’s alleged failure to address criminal activities, such as the spread of child sexual abuse material. The investigation in France is exploring charges related to illegal transactions, child pornography, and fraud.
- Criminal Activities in India:
- Stock Manipulation: On July 24, SEBI exposed a scheme where a Telegram group admin was accused of manipulating stock prices and earning a commission of Rs 20 lakh.
- Fraud: On May 3, two men from Bhopal were arrested for allegedly cheating a doctor of Rs 38 lakh using Telegram to pose as police officers.
- Exam Paper Leaks: The UGC-NET exam was canceled on June 19 due to a question paper leak facilitated through Telegram. Similarly, NEET-UG question papers were reportedly leaked before the exam on May 3.
Government Response:
- Monitoring and Regulation: The Indian government has expressed concern about Telegram’s role in these activities. There are increasing calls for stricter regulations and monitoring of the platform’s content.
- Awareness and Vigilance: Indian agencies are working to identify those involved in illegal activities on Telegram and are encouraging users to report suspicious activities.
Telegram’s Stance:
- Telegram has defended itself, stating that it is unreasonable to hold the platform or its owner responsible for misuse by some users. The app’s user base has grown from 550 million in 2022 to 950 million currently.
Implications: The scrutiny and potential regulatory actions against Telegram highlight the challenges faced by messaging platforms in combating misuse while balancing user privacy and freedom. The government’s ongoing monitoring and regulatory measures aim to curb illegal activities associated with the platform.
