Why does extremism on Telegram worry governments so much?

By Eleanor Thornber, Jeff Stone, Bloomberg; Translated by Baishui, Golden Finance

Whether it's spreading conspiracy theories or organizing riots, the messaging app Telegram has become a focal point for online extremist activity. The service, launched in 2013, is one of the most downloaded apps in the world. Its private chat settings make Telegram a free space for open discussion in countries with authoritarian regimes. But a relatively lax approach to content moderation means it is now a prime target for governments trying to stop criminal activity and the spread of misinformation that could undermine social stability. On August 24, French authorities arrested CEO Pavel Durov, accusing him of failing to take steps to prevent Telegram from being used for crimes, including the dissemination of child sexual abuse material. The company issued a statement saying it complies with European law.

What is Telegram?

It's a text-based chat service that looks and feels a bit like WhatsApp, but with additional features similar to X or Facebook. Telegram chat is a simple, everyday communication tool used by hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Users can also post stories, create discussion groups or set up so-called channels. A channel can eventually attract millions of subscribers and become an influential destination for news and information.

New users must agree not to spam or scam users, promote violence or post illegal pornography. But in practice, it conducts less content moderation than the big American social media networks. Its moderators routinely remove content that explicitly calls for violence.

How private is Telegram?

The extent of Telegram's encryption remains unclear. While competitors WhatsApp and Signal use end-to-end encryption by default, which is considered one of the best ways to protect users' messages, Telegram does not.

Instead, the site only offers end-to-end encryption to users who initiate "secret chats," making messages unreadable to Telegram and any potential snoopers. Telegram also relies on its own proprietary encryption protocol, which means that, unlike Signal, security experts cannot test and verify that the company does what it claims.

Why is Telegram a powerful tool for extremists?

Content on Telegram is not pushed to users based on their engagement history like it is on other platforms like X, TikTok or Facebook.

But hate speech and misinformation can still spread on Telegram. One reason for this is that users can cross-post their content from one channel to others. For example, users who follow channels of supporters of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump could become targets of conspiracy theorists who post links to their own channels with more offensive political content.

If users click on those links, they can find themselves interacting with more radical users sharing more extreme narratives.

Why are governments so concerned about Telegram?

It has proven difficult to track down extremists who have joined the platform and sent false or inflammatory messages directly to individuals or in chat rooms and channels.

Law enforcement agencies have more leverage to convince Facebook and WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms Inc. to help them identify users engaging in illegal activity because it is a publicly traded company based in the United States.

When it comes to Dubai-based Telegram, it has proven largely powerless.

Pro-Russian accounts have been particularly active on Telegram, spreading disinformation aimed at undermining support for Ukraine. Russian intelligence operatives have used it to recruit petty criminals to carry out sabotage campaigns in European capitals. Many Ukrainians also use Telegram, including President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Durov's arrest is a memorable moment for the site, which for years resisted calls to remove vile content. French officials questioned the executive as part of a case launched by the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor's office. The government said the investigation focused on a range of allegations, including that Durov refused to help authorities conduct a legal wiretap on a suspect and that Telegram facilitated the sale of child sexual abuse material.

Telegram called the charges "ridiculous" in a statement after Durov's arrest.

What role did Telegram play in the UK riots?

Telegram was used to incite and coordinate anti-immigrant riots in the UK in early August.

After the murder of three girls in Southport, northern England on July 29, extremists used Telegram channels to incite hatred against Muslims, spread action locations and targets, and spread practical advice for would-be rioters, according to a study by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a London-based counter-extremism think tank.

The study examined 16 prominent Telegram channels and groups "that actively posted, hosted and forwarded anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant content related to the riots". Six channels created in direct response to the riots were removed from the platform on August 5 and 6, the study found.

When asked about the app's role in the UK unrest, a Telegram spokesperson said its moderators "are actively monitoring the situation and removing channels and posts that contain calls for violence." The spokesperson said monitoring includes direct supervision of the public parts of the platform, the use of artificial intelligence tools and user reports.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on social media platforms that fuel the unrest.

What are the origins of Telegram?

Telegram was founded by Russian entrepreneur Durov and his brother, programmer and mathematician Nikolai. They made their fortune in 2006 by creating the Russian social network VKontakte. Pavel fled the country and sold his shares in VKontakte. Around that time, the idea for Telegram was born, and Nikolai developed the platform's data transmission system.

Pavel, sometimes called Russia's Mark Zuckerberg, continues to live in self-imposed exile. He frequently makes headlines for his wealth, with a net worth of over $10 billion.

The platform is inseparable from cryptocurrency, and in 2018 launched its own initial coin offering, called Telegram Open Network.

How does Telegram make money?

In 2020, Pavel Durov announced plans to monetize the platform, which had previously had no revenue since its creation. A subscription version, Telegram Premium, was launched in 2022. Users can pay to get an enhanced Telegram experience, including faster downloads and greater file uploads.

It also launched a rewards system where content creators can keep 50% of their channel's advertising revenue. The platform still makes most of its money from the founders themselves, though.