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The Indian government is investigating Telegram over concerns of criminal activities like extortion and gambling.
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The probe, conducted by I4C and MeitY, may lead to a ban depending on the findings.
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Telegram’s lack of physical presence in India complicates government efforts to request user data and communicate with the company.
The Indian government has launched an investigation into Telegram, a popular messaging app, over concerns that it is being used for criminal activities. The probe, conducted by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), will examine peer-to-peer communications on the platform, particularly focusing on illegal activities like extortion and gambling.
The investigation comes amid the arrest of Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, in France over the app’s moderation policies. The Indian government’s probe may lead to a ban on the app, depending on the findings. Telegram has over five million registered users in India, making it one of the country’s most widely used messaging apps.
The government’s efforts to request user data and communicate with Telegram are complicated by the company’s lack of physical presence in India. Despite complying with India’s IT Rules, Telegram’s unique challenges may lead to further action from the government.
