Telegram Platform-A Failure Of Mederation Letting Criminals Thrive

A Failure of Moderation France French authorities detained Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov Saturday over his app’s lack of moderation, an arrest that comes as countries and governments are grappling with how to regulate social media and messaging platforms, Newsweek reported. Durov was traveling from Azerbaijan in his private jet when police arrested him at Le Bourget Airport outside Paris. His arrest follows a French probe into Telegram’s moderation policies and potential legal infractions. Specifically, the investigation is looking into the app’s alleged lack of content moderation that has allowed criminal activities, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and organized crime, to flourish via the app. Founded in 2013, Telegram boasts more than 900 million active users and is influential in Russia and Ukraine. The platform is known for its strong encryption features and user privacy which have appealed to many users seeking secure communication channels, such as activists, journalists and government dissidents. But these features have come under criticism by national governments and law enforcement agencies, who complain that the platform has been exploited by criminal and other malicious actors. Durov, originally from Russia, gained prominence as the founder of VK, the “Russian Facebook.” He left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on VK and turn over data to the authorities. He has previously claimed that both the United States and Russia have demanded he compromise Telegram’s privacy features, including attempts by US authorities to introduce a “backdoor” into the app to spy on its users. Following the US Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021, Telegram received conflicting requests from US legislators regarding user data, which Durov ignored due to their complexity. Despite fleeing Russia, his arrest prompted criticism from Russian officials. The Russian embassy in France demanded consular access and urged France to ensure Durov’s rights were protected. Russian officials and bloggers have criticized France’s actions, with some labeling the country as moving toward a totalitarian society, Al Jazeera noted. Durov’s detention also came amid broader global concerns about regulating social media and messaging platforms. The European Union’s Digital Services Act, for instance, requires tech companies to better police illegal content, including hate speech. France has been proactive in holding tech companies accountable for the content on their platforms. Meanwhile, many Telegram users are watching closely how the case unfolds, with some noting that the situation could influence the app’s operations and how other countries approach the regulation of similar platforms. Share this story