Telegram Being Probed by Indian Govt, Ban Threat Looms: Report

Update: 2024-08-26 16:41 GMT
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. (Photo: AFP)

The Indian government is investigating Telegram over its alleged role in criminal activities such as extortion and gambling, according to a MoneyControl report. It also added that it could potentially lead to ban on the messaging app based on the findings.

According to the report, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Electronics and Information is conducting the investigation.

This comes after the arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov in Paris on August 24 over the messaging app’s moderation policies. It is alleged that Telegram was used for money laundering and Drug trafficking, reported news agency PTI.

The final decision will be based on the outcome of the investigation, said the report.

Telegram complies with IT rules of the country, which require platforms to appoint a nodal officer and a chief compliance officer and publish monthly compliance reports.

Tech leaders have voiced support for the Telegram CEO. Edward Snowden, former NSA whistleblower, took to X to voice his support.

“The arrest of @Durov is an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association. I am surprised and deeply saddened that Macron has descended to the level of taking hostages as a means for gaining access to private communications. It lowers not only France, but the world,” he wrote on X.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk added a #FreePavel and shared a video of Pavel during an interview with Tucker Carlson.


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