Telegram Ban In India? Messenger App Under Investigation Over Extortion, Gambling Following CEO Pavel Durov Arrest

Telegram chief Durov’s arrest, which has drawn criticism from figures like Elon Musk and Edward Snowden, centres around the app’s content moderation practices.

The Indian government has launched an investigation into the messaging platform Telegram, following concerns that the app is being used for illegal activities such as extortion and gambling. This inquiry, which could potentially lead to a ban on the app, is being conducted by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), according to a report by Moneycontrol.

Is Telegram Going To Be Shut Down In India?

The outcome of the investigation will determine whether Telegram continues to operate in the country. Although Telegram currently complies with India’s Information Technology (IT) Rules—requiring the appointment of key officers and the publication of monthly compliance reports — the probe may reveal whether these measures are sufficient.

Why Was Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested?

This development follows the recent arrest of Telegram’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, in Paris on August 24. Durov’s arrest, which has drawn criticism from figures like Elon Musk and Edward Snowden, centres around the app’s content moderation practices, which have allegedly failed to curb criminal activities on the platform.

Durov was detained by French authorities at Le Bourget airport near Paris after arriving from Baku, Azerbaijan. His arrest stems from a search warrant issued by France's Office for Minors (OFMIN), which is investigating him for alleged involvement in activities such as fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime, and the promotion of terrorism.

Wide Use In Russia

Telegram, which is widely used in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states, has grown into one of the world's major social media platforms, with ambitions to reach a billion users within the next year. However, concerns have been raised about the platform's role in facilitating illicit activities due to its lack of moderation.

The investigation into Durov is particularly focused on the app's failure to prevent drug trafficking and other criminal activities, according to reports by French media outlets TF1 and BFMTV. Durov, who spends most of his time outside of Europe, had been a relatively rare visitor to France, making his recent arrest a significant development.

Telegram has become a crucial platform for information — both reliable and misleading — since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. It is used by key political figures, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as by the Kremlin and Russian government, to communicate and disseminate news about the ongoing conflict.