Telegram, a messaging app with about 950 million users, has agreed to join an international child protection scheme. This move marks a significant change for the platform, which had long refused to work with such initiatives. The decision comes four months after its founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested in Paris over allegations related to Telegram’s failure to moderate extreme content, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Partnering with the Internet Watch Foundation
Telegram will now collaborate with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), an organization that helps major online platforms detect and remove CSAM. Derek Ray-Hill, Interim CEO of the IWF, described Telegram’s decision as “transformational” but cautioned that it was only the beginning of a long journey.
“By joining the IWF, Telegram can begin deploying tools to ensure this material cannot be shared on its platform,” Ray-Hill said.
Telegram previously claimed to remove hundreds of thousands of abusive materials monthly using its own systems. However, IWF membership will enhance its ability to detect and block known CSAM more effectively.
The app’s commitment comes after years of prioritizing user privacy over aligning with global policy norms. Critics, including the BBC, have raised concerns about Telegram being used for criminal activities, such as advertising drugs and cybercrime. One expert even labeled it “the dark web in your pocket.”
Pavel Durov’s Arrest and Platform Reforms
In August, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was detained at a Paris airport. French authorities accused him of failing to cooperate with law enforcement on issues like drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud. Judges barred Durov, a billionaire with multiple citizenships, from leaving France during the investigation. Telegram called his arrest unfair, arguing that he should not be held liable for users’ actions.
Since the arrest, Telegram has implemented notable reforms:
- Sharing IP addresses and phone numbers of offenders with police upon valid legal requests.
- Disabling the “people nearby” feature due to its misuse by scammers and bots.
- Publishing transparency reports on content removal, a practice it had previously resisted.
Durov promised to turn Telegram’s moderation practices into a model of excellence, calling the IWF partnership a step toward this goal.
Challenges Ahead
Telegram’s marketing emphasizes its end-to-end encryption, but most communications on the platform actually use standard encryption. This raises concerns about security and privacy. Despite these issues, the platform remains widely popular, particularly in Russia, Ukraine, Iran, and other former Soviet states.
The IWF’s tools will bolster Telegram’s efforts to combat abuse material, but critics say lasting improvements will require ongoing collaboration and transparency. For Telegram, this marks a pivotal shift toward greater accountability.
