The Dark Web in Your Pocket

About nine months ago, while researching a story, I found myself added to a large Telegram channel focused on selling drugs. It didn’t stop there—I was soon added to a channel about hacking and then one about stolen credit cards. My Telegram settings had unknowingly allowed people to add me to their channels without my consent. I decided to keep the settings as they were, just to see what would happen. Within a few months, I had been added to 82 different groups, all engaged in illegal activities. Even after changing my settings to prevent this, every time I log in, I'm bombarded with thousands of new messages from dozens of highly active illegal groups. The recent arrest of Telegram’s billionaire chief executive, Pavel Durov, in France has sparked a fierce debate about moderation—or the lack thereof—on his app.

Durov's Arrest: A Wake-Up Call? Durov has been charged with suspected complicity in facilitating illicit transactions, drug trafficking, fraud, and the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his platform. While criminality exists on other social networks too, my experience with Telegram suggests a broader problem that law enforcement has been concerned about for years. Telegram has often been described as “the dark web in your pocket,” a characterization that seems all too accurate given the extent of illegal activities flourishing on the app. Criminal Haven Criminals have long favored the dark web for its anonymity, but Telegram has become a popular alternative, especially for lower-level, lesser-skilled cybercriminals. Researchers at cybersecurity firm Intel471 note that before Telegram, most of this activity took place on hidden dark web services. Now, it has found a new home on Telegram, where anonymity and ease of access make it a prime platform for illegal dealings. The hacker group Qilin, which held NHS hospitals to ransom earlier this summer, notably chose Telegram over its dark web site to publish stolen blood test data. Similarly, a deepfake service used to create fake nudes of schoolgirls in Spain and South Korea runs its full service, including payment, on Telegram. Child Abuse Material: A Disturbing Reality Telegram claims its moderation is “within industry standards,” yet recent evidence suggests otherwise, particularly regarding CSAM. While Telegram does respond to some takedown requests, it has been criticized for not participating in proactive measures to prevent the spread of such material. French prosecutors have highlighted Telegram’s lack of moderation and cooperation in combating crimes against children as a major issue. Telegram’s terms and conditions state that all chats and group chats are private among their participants, and the platform does not process requests related to them. This policy, coupled with Telegram’s refusal to cooperate fully with law enforcement, has made the app a safe haven for criminal activities.

A Threat to Free Speech? Despite the mounting criticism, some worry that Durov’s arrest could have negative implications for freedom of speech. Digital rights organization Access Now has expressed concern that detaining platform staff without clear alignment with human rights principles could lead to over-censorship and shrink civic spaces. Even Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter), has condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on freedom of speech and advocating for Durov’s release. As this situation unfolds, the debate over Telegram’s role in facilitating crime and its impact on free speech is likely to intensify. But one thing is clear: the app’s dark side is impossible to ignore, and its future remains uncertain.