What is the latest controversy surrounding it?
An investigation has been launched in India following the arrest of Telegram's founder and CEO. Pavel DurovAugust 24, 2024, in Paris. French authorities have Content Moderation They claim that the lack of proper moderation facilitates criminal activities such as the distribution of child pornography, drug trafficking and rampant revenge porn on the platform.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov knew he was persona non grata when he was arrested by French authorities. Credit: Getty Images
“With his policies, he has allowed countless crimes and illegalities to occur and has done nothing to curb them or cooperate with them,” said a French source connected to the case. [with law enforcement]The arrests were made by Elon Musk and Edward Snowdenthey Digital Privacy And freedom. In his X post, Snowden called his arrest “a violation of the fundamental rights of speech and association.”
According to MoneyControl, the investigation is being conducted by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the outcome of the investigation will determine whether Telegram will continue to operate in India.
Telegram's investigation in India is also due to its alleged involvement in a stock market fraud. On July 24, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) uncovered a stock price manipulation scheme conducted through Telegram. Telegram AppA Telegram group moderator was accused of manipulating the stock price of a steel sheet manufacturing company to receive a reward of Rs 20 lakh, showing how financial fraud could be carried out using the app's private encrypted communication channels.
Why is research difficult?
Investigating Telegram in India presents unique challenges. The app's encryption and privacy policy make it difficult for authorities to effectively monitor communications. Telegram uses end-to-end encryption for secret chats, ensuring that only the communicating users can read messages. While this level of security is beneficial for user privacy, it complicates law enforcement efforts to track illegal activity.
Moreover, Telegram's decentralized structure means it has no single point of control, making it more difficult for authorities to enforce regulations: the app's servers are spread across different countries, further complicating jurisdictional issues.
Despite these challenges, the Indian government is determined to tackle misuse of the platform. The investigation is ongoing and authorities are taking all steps to comply with Indian law. Telegram is yet to make an official statement regarding the investigation, leaving users in a state of uncertainty.
The outcome of this investigation will have a significant impact on Telegram's future in India. If the allegations prove to be true, the app could be banned, affecting millions of users who rely on it for secure communication. The situation remains fluid and the coming weeks will be crucial in deciding the fate of the app in India.
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