Telegram is currently under investigation in India following the recent arrest of its co-founder Pavel Durov in France.
The Indian government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), is examining the platform for possible involvement in gambling, extortion, and other illicit activities.
India, which boasts the largest user base for Telegram globally with around 104 million users, could see the app banned depending on the investigation’s findings.
Reports suggest that some Indian users are experiencing difficulties accessing the Telegram wallet, and receiving messages about unsupported regions.
However, others claim they still have access, leading to confusion among the user base.
Durov’s arrest by French authorities has sparked significant controversy.
The French investigation, led by L’Office Mineurs (OFMIN), is probing allegations of drug trafficking, fraud, and other serious crimes linked to Telegram’s platform.
Critics argue that Telegram’s minimal content moderation allows illegal activities to flourish, while Telegram counters that it adheres to EU laws and maintains robust content moderation practices.
In response to the arrest, Telegram has defended Durov, asserting that the claims against the platform are unfounded.
French Prime Minister Emanuel Macron has emphasized that Durov’s arrest is not politically motivated and that the judicial process will determine the outcome.
