An investigation has begun against Telegram in South Korea on charges similar to those brought against the messenger in France. Yonhap News Agency, citing the police, reported that the platform is accused of aiding and abetting sexual crimes. The head of the South Korean National Police Investigation Agency, Woo Jong-soo, stated that Telegram is not providing the necessary data for the investigation, including account information.

This is the first investigation against Telegram in South Korea. It concerns eight bots that generate fake materials with sexual content and channels that distribute these images. From Aug. 26 to 29, the police received 88 complaints and identified 24 suspects. South Korean law enforcement officials are seeking cooperation with French authorities. According to them, this issue also concerns representatives of other countries, including the United States.

Telegram Blocked in Indonesia

After the investigation began in France, Indonesian authorities are considering blocking Telegram. Indonesian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Budi Arie Setiadi expressed concerns about the spread of illegal content on Telegram, including the alleged involvement of Pavel Durov’s project in promoting online gambling and distributing pornography.

“I would prefer to shut down Bigo Live and Telegram immediately, but a team needs to conduct further studies first,” said Setiadi. The Indonesian government has repeatedly approached Telegram representatives and the team of another live-streaming app, Bigo Live, asking them to improve content moderation. However, the companies must still implement more effective measures to meet the country’s regulatory requirements.

The Investigation Against Telegram in France

Telegram founder Pavel Durov was detained in France. He has been charged with conspiracy in sexualized violence against children, drug trafficking, and several other crimes facilitated by the anonymity offered on Telegram. After four days in custody, Durov was released on bail of €5 million, banned from leaving France, and ordered to report to the police twice a week.

Breaking news: Durov – Telegram founder was released on bail of €5 million.

Telegram stated that the platform’s moderation meets standards, the messenger team complies with EU laws, and blaming the platform’s founder for user abuses is unfounded.

New Details of Durov’s Interrogation

Earlier, the French newspaper Liberation, citing a source close to the investigation, reported that Durov, during interrogation in Paris, claimed he had communicated with representatives of the General Directorate of Internal Security of the French Ministry of the Interior. The publication suggests that the messenger’s founder opened an official communication channel with French counterintelligence to combat terrorism, including a “hotline” and a special email address. This communication supposedly helped prevent several terrorist attacks.

According to Liberation, Durov expressed his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement agencies after his arrest and provided them with his phone and access code. However, this information has not been officially confirmed, and neither the French investigation nor Pavel Durov has commented on it.

Telegram Accumulates Crypto Assets

According to financial documents, Telegram held about $400 million in cryptocurrencies in 2023. In 2024, the messenger sold Toncoin worth more than $244 million. Last year, the company reported revenue of $342 million, operating losses of $108 million, and total losses of about $173 million after taxes. Telegram also raised about $2.4 billion in debt financing, maturing in 2026.

Telegram’s Crypto Initiatives Continue to Develop

Telegram’s cryptocurrency initiatives have gained momentum, especially after Durov spoke about creating decentralized financial instruments based on the social network in December 2022. He outlined tools for trading and storing cryptocurrencies, including plans for non-custodial crypto wallets and decentralized exchanges.

Durov’s initiative responded to the collapse of the centralized crypto exchange FTX in November 2022. He emphasized that the crypto industry should return to its decentralized roots. “We, developers, should steer the blockchain industry away from centralization by building fast and easy-to-use decentralized applications for the masses. Such projects are finally feasible today,” Durov stated.

Since then, Telegram has been actively strengthening its presence as a tool for cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance (DeFi). The messenger now offers a cryptocurrency wallet, mini-games for earning cryptocurrencies, and more. Despite Durov’s arrest in France, the Telegram team has assured that they have a plan in case of force majeure.

What Will Happen to Telegram?

The concerns about Telegram primarily relate to content moderation issues, which, according to authorities, make the messenger a tool used by criminals. Following the accusations in France, authorities in other countries may start scrutinizing Telegram’s activities more closely. However, no other charges have been brought against Durov yet.

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