The Indian government is investigating Telegram, and the messaging platform could face a ban due to suspicions that it is being used for illegal activities.

Telegram has faced several challenges recently. A few days ago, the company’s CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France for allegedly failing to take action against illicit activities on the platform, such as child abuse, drug trafficking, fraud, and terrorism. Now, the Indian government is investigating Telegram’s use in crimes like extortion and gambling.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) are leading the investigation. A government official told Moneycontrol that the app “could” be banned in India if found guilty.

The investigation is not unexpected, as Telegram was recently used to leak and distribute the UGC-NEET medical entrance exam in India. Reports indicate that the exams were sold on Telegram for between 5,000 and 10,000 rupees each (approximately $60 to $119).

Previously, in October 2023, India’s Ministry of Information Technology had already requested Telegram to remove content related to child sexual abuse that was being disseminated on the platform.

The current investigation is ongoing and could take some time, especially since Telegram does not have a local office in India, complicating communication between Indian officials and the company.

By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director