Telegram investigation: The Indian government has recently started investigating criminal activities such as extortion and gambling on Telegram. According to government officials, the special focus of this investigation is on P2P (peer-to-peer) communication. If these activities are confirmed in the result of the investigation, the government may consider banning this platform.
Pavel Durov arrested
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris on August 24. Durov was detained for failing to moderate criminal activities on the app. The arrest comes amid efforts by Indian authorities to control criminal activities on this app.
Related government bodies
The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Center (14C) and the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) are keeping a special eye on Telegram. Government officials, on condition of anonymity, said that the investigation being conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs and MeitY is focusing on activities like extortion and gambling. Given the seriousness of the investigation, the possibility of banning Telegram cannot be completely ruled out.
Number of users and controversy
Telegram has more than 50 lakh registered users in India. In recent years, this platform has been seen as a medium for criminal activities. Recently, Telegram’s name also came up in the UGC-NEET controversy, where it was alleged that the question papers of the medical entrance exam were leaked and shared on this app. According to reports, the price of these question papers was kept between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.
Further action
Given the seriousness of these activities, the Government of India has planned strict action on this messaging app. More clarity may come in the coming days regarding the role of Telegram and its control. Moneycontrol has sought a response from Telegram on this matter.