The EU is investigating the messaging platform Telegram over potential violations of EU digital regulations. According to Financial Times, EU officials are looking into whether the platform lied about its user numbers to avoid being regulated under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Bloomberg reports that Russian intelligence has used the platform to recruit criminals for sabotage operations in European capitals. This situation has raised concerns among European officials, who, despite new regulatory powers, find themselves nearly powerless against Telegram.
Disinformation proliferates on Telegram without any restraint, with requests to remove harmful content often ignored. Telegram serves as a central hub for distributing fake news across various channels, amplifying it to reach a broader audience.
Legal and data experts in the EU believe Telegram may have intentionally understated its user base in Europe to remain below the 45 million user threshold, which would subject the platform to stricter Brussels regulations. In February, Telegram reported having 41 million users in the EU. However, under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), the company was required to provide updated figures this month but failed to do so, claiming instead to have “significantly fewer than 45 million monthly active users in the EU.”
The absence of updated data suggests a violation of the DSA, and the EU investigation is expected to reveal that the actual number of users exceeds the threshold for “very large online platforms.” This designation imposes additional obligations on the company, including enhanced content moderation, third-party audits, and mandatory data sharing with the European Commission.
Additionally, it is worth noting that South Korean police have launched a preliminary investigation into Telegram. The platform is suspected of involvement in sex crimes related to pornographic deepfakes. According to Yonhap, National Bureau of Investigation head Woo Jong-Soo stated that the investigation is challenging due to Telegram’s refusal to provide necessary information, including account data. Within just one week, 88 reports of deepfake-related sexual crimes were filed, and 24 suspects were identified. Automated deepfake programs and Telegram group chats spreading such content are under investigation.
