Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested: Recently, Pavel Durov, the CEO of the popular social media platform Telegram, was arrested in France. The Russian-born entrepreneur faces serious allegations from the French government, which could lead to a prison sentence of up to 20 years if proven. In response to these developments, the Indian government has entered action mode against Telegram, preparing to take steps that might even result in a ban on the app in India.
Indian Government’s Stance on Telegram
The Ministry of Information Technology is closely monitoring various illegal activities associated with Telegram, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and the sharing of pedophilic content. They are preparing to send recommendations to the Home Ministry regarding these illegal activities. An official from the IT Ministry has stated that there is heightened scrutiny on Telegram due to its involvement in various unlawful actions.
Reasons Behind the Government’s Decision
The Indian government has made this decision in light of numerous complaints regarding Telegram’s facilitating of illegal activities. There is a precedent of the app being linked to several criminal cases across the country, including online gambling and cybercrime. The Home Ministry has sought advice from the Ministry of IT regarding this app following several meetings aimed at discussing the implications of its use.
Arrest of Telegram’s CEO in France
Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested in Paris on August 24 due to complaints regarding the app’s moderation policies. Reports suggest that he was taken into custody for failing to prevent criminal activities on the platform. This incident raises further questions about the operational integrity of Telegram and its adherence to legal obligations worldwide.
Government’s Stringent Measures in India
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the IT Ministry are actively monitoring Telegram’s person-to-person communication. Reports indicate that Telegram has over 5 million registered users in India, and while actions have been taken against suspicious accounts in the past, more stringent measures are planned moving forward. Telegram and similar platforms have been implicated in promoting criminal activities over the years, resulting in significant financial losses for Indian citizens.
NEET Question Paper Leak via Telegram
Telegram has recently made headlines in connection with the UGC-NEET controversy, where a medical entrance exam question paper was allegedly leaked and widely distributed on the app. Sources indicate that the leaked papers were sold at prices ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000. The I4C and IT Ministry are currently investigating these violations, which do not fall directly under the purview of the Information Technology (IT) rules.
Regulatory Challenges for Telegram in India
Although Telegram does not overtly violate IT regulations, it is not transparent about the illegal activities occurring on its platform in India. Under IT guidelines, platforms like Telegram are required to appoint a nodal officer and a Chief Compliance Officer and publish monthly compliance reports. However, Telegram’s operations, which are hosted outside of India, complicate the government’s oversight efforts.
Previous Ban of Platforms in India
This is not the first time Telegram has faced scrutiny in India; in October of the previous year, the IT Ministry issued notices to Telegram and other social media platforms instructing them to remove Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
Recent Bans Imposed by the Government
On May 23, the Indian government, based on recommendations from the Home Ministry, banned several encrypted messaging platforms, including Briar, Element, Germany-based Cryptvisor, UK-based Enigma, Switzerland-based SafeSwiss, and WickrMe owned by AWS. Additionally, the IT Ministry considered blocking the end-to-end encrypted email platform ProtonMail, which was misused for sending false bomb threats to schools, malls, and airports, leading Swiss authorities to intervene to prevent further action.
