After the arrest of Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov in France, South Korea has also started investigations against Telegram for its alleged role in illicit activities. A preliminary investigation by The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been launched which is aimed at Telegram’s role in abetting deepfake sex crimes.
This preliminary investigation follows an internal investigation by South Korean police which had revealed that Telegram was being used to distribute deepfake obscene content with modified photos of Korean women. South Korean police has confirmed reporting of 88 such crimes in the past week. Woo Jong-soo, head of the National Office of Investigation also hinted at collaborating with French authorities in investigating Telegram.
Out of 950 million global users of Telegram, only three million are in South Korea which makes the country a relatively small market for Telegram. Still, Telegram is the third popular messaging app in South Korea behind KakaoTalk and Instagram, with roughly 5% population using it. Telegram gained popularity in South Korea in 2014 to 2016 when citizens feared increased cyber surveillance by South Korean authorities.
Telegram has removed objected material and apologized for miscommunication regarding the issue, after complaint by the Korean regulator, Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC). It is interesting to note that Telegram remained averse to such past requests of cooperation by the Korean authorities. Nth Room case of 2020 is the typical example of non-cooperation from Telegram. The case involved cybersex trafficking through Telegram. While investigating, the South Korean police had sent seven requests for cooperation from Telegram only to be snubbed each time.
By initiating action against Telegram, South Korea has started treading on the footsteps of western regulators. There are growing concerns among world governments that Telegram’s limited content moderation has made it a refuge for terrorists, criminals, and extremists, who primarily use it for illegal activities. Recently, French authorities had detained Telegram’s founder for his complicity in use of platform for illicit activities.
Recent reports from Indonesia also suggest that the country is considering a ban on Telegram for its alleged involvement in spreading obscene content and online gambling. Moreover, a recent failure to access the app in India also prompted users to believe that the app has been banned in India. Though there has been no official confirmation yet regarding its ban.
This trend highlights a significant shift toward more stringent regulations on digital communication tools. Amid scrutiny from all over the world, Telegram’s future hinges on its willingness to collaborate with law enforcement agencies and address concerns about its misuse. Free speech and privacy is necessary but it should not come at the expense of citizens’ safety and security.