The Indian government is also investigating reports of illegal content on the platform ranging from fraud, extortion, drugs and gambling that users share without any supervision by the platform.
According to analytics firm Demand Sage, Telegram recorded over 83.85 million downloads in India in 2023, the highest number in the world. Russia came in second with 35.06 million downloads.
Interestingly, it is also at the centre of several criminal activities in the country. Recently, it came under the spotlight after UGC-NET and NEET-UG exam papers were leaked on the platform.
According to reports, in June 2024, UGC-NET June 2024 Exam was on sale for between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 on the platform, screenshots of which were also circulating on social media.
NTA UGC NET paper was leaked a day before the exam and the paper was cancelled.
The NTA as an agency has no integrity.#UGC_NET #ugc #NET_JRF #NTA_is_the_criminal #NTA image.twitter.com/8pV7ErNvKV-Harshiee (@harshiee_26) June 19, 2024
The exam, which was scheduled to take place on June 18, had about 900,000 applicants. It had to be cancelled a day after the document was leaked.
Similarly, many NEET aspirants are said to have obtained copies of the question paper a day before the exam. The controversy surrounding NEET-UG prompted the Supreme Court to observe, “If there is a leak of the question paper through Telegram, WhatsApp or other electronic means, it spreads like wildfire.”
A post on X (formerly Twitter) from June shows that the question paper for the NEET-PG exam for 2024 was also on sale on Telegram for ₹ 5 lakh and even had detailed instructions on how one could obtain the question paper and what process would follow once they got access to it.
So they are supposedly selling it for 5 lakhs.@NTA_Exams Please investigate this possible scam.
The kind of details they have prepared seem capable of competing with NTA. image.twitter.com/X8CtBgzNjr— Dr. Mohammed Tariq (@Dr_Cule13) June 20, 2024
While this is one of the biggest controversies involving Telegram in India, it is not the only one.
CNBC-TV18 in 2023 had discovered that Several financial fraud operations are being carried out on the platform also.
In this case, scammers contact people via WhatsApp and lure them with different work-from-home or part-time job opportunities. They then lure them into Telegram groups, where they share information about fake cryptocurrency investment schemes and ask members to invest large sums of money.
In January, Delhi Police arrested four men for allegedly committing cyber fraud through Telegram. They uncovered a money trail of more than ₹60 lakh and the accused involved were found to be running a large syndicate that had links with Chinese nationals.
Sources had earlier told CNBC-TV18 that they also suspect Chinese involvement, alleging that such entities have siphoned off over ₹42,000 crore from the country.
In May 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) imposed a fine of ₹50 lakh on a Telegram channel operator who was pumping up the stock prices of a company until he eventually recommended the stock on two Telegram channels and divested the holding.
“SEBI investigations revealed that the stock price had increased significantly, even by over 100% in 8 months, from Rs 100 on February 1, 2021, to Rs 183.75 on September 13, 2021,” according to a Moneycontrol report.
In a 2023 report, the India Future Foundation revealed that several entities use Telegram to buy and sell medicines in India.
One illegal activity that Telegram is most known for is the circulation of pirated content, allowing people to watch and download movies, TV shows, and more without having to pay for anything.
When reports of a possible ban in India surfaced, several memes began circulating on social media about how users would lose access to free entertainment.
News: Telegram will be banned soon
Users who used to download free movies and series. image.twitter.com/6LoIH1V92n
— _sankasm_ (@MasutiSanket) August 26, 2024
Telegram could be banned in India
People without OTT subscriptions: image.twitter.com/3uGoApIJGn
— memes_hallabol (@memes_hallabol) August 27, 2024
What makes Telegram a haven for scammers?
Scammers are drawn to Telegram because it offers several advantages for their illegal activities. The app’s global reach allows them to easily connect with accomplices in different countries. Telegram also prioritizes user anonymity, making it difficult for authorities to track and catch criminals.
The app is easy to use, with features like group chats and encrypted messaging, making it a convenient alternative to more complicated dark web platforms.
Additionally, Telegram allows cybercriminals to directly distribute malicious software without having to go through traditional dark web marketplaces, giving them more control and less costs. These factors make Telegram a popular choice for scammers looking to remain hidden and operate seamlessly.
Investigation into Telegram in other countries
Pavel Durov, the Russian-born entrepreneur who founded Telegram, is facing serious charges in France for allegedly failing to prevent illegal activities on the messaging platform.
Durov has been charged with complicity in the operation of an online platform that facilitated illegal transactions by an organised group. This charge could carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Durov also faces charges of aiding and abetting crimes including the distribution of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking and fraud, as well as refusing to cooperate with police.
South Korean police have also launched an investigation into Telegram that will look into whether the encrypted messaging app has been complicit in the distribution of sexually explicit deepfake content.
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