Telegram’s Troubles Deepen as South Korea Joins Crackdown

• Telegram is facing more challenges, this time in South Korea.
• Authorities are reportedly probing the platform for misdeeds.
• Telegram’s CEO remains stuck in limbo in France.

The past few weeks have been marked by severe regulatory troubles for Telegram, beginning with the arrest of its co-founder and chief executive, Pavel Durov. On August 24, 2024, Durov was seized and detained by French authorities, who accused him of knowingly facilitating criminal activities on the platform.

As if its troubles are not enough, Telegram may now be staring down another regulatory hurdle.

Telegram Faces Heat In South Korea

The woes of the popular messaging platform Telegram are compounding. According to local South Korean news agency Yonhap , on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, authorities launched a preliminary investigation into the platform.

Mirroring the ongoing investigation in France, the probe reportedly centers on “suspicions of abetting deepfake crimes” and circulation of explicit content within the county. The head of South Korea’s National Office of Investigation, Woo Jong-soo, highlighted that investigators had already conducted a probe into the allegations before the official announcement.

"As France has done, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency launched an internal investigation into the corporate entity of Telegram before officially booking it," he reportedly stated.

South Korean authorities will also reportedly cooperate with French and other international institutions to aid the ongoing investigation into the messaging platform.

Why Telegram Is Being Probed

Following Telegram CEO Durov’s arrest at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, authorities unveiled a litany of charges against him and the platform.

From complicity in facilitating illegal transactions and distributing illicit videos to failing to cooperate with authorities, Durov is facing a range of serious offenses. 

The allegations also include the use of the platform by organized criminal gangs, handling of narcotics, providing tools for cyberattacks, as well as failing to declare cryptographic services and equipment as required by law.

While Durov has since been released from detention, he still faces restrictions as the investigation proceeds. As part of his bail conditions, the Telegram executive is under strict supervision, prohibited from leaving France, and must report to authorities twice weekly. 

On the Flipside

• The safety of Telegram’s millions of users’ messages has come into question in the wake of ongoing troubles.
• The community has criticized Telegram’s ongoing troubles as threats to freedom of expression and privacy.
• TON, the native token affiliated with the platform, has been declining since the CEO’s arrest.  

Why This Matters

A regulatory probe in South Korea compounds Telegram’s mounting troubles, threatening to damage its reputation further.

Read this article for how communities in the crypto industry are rallying behind Telegram:
TON Community Rallies Behind Telegram CEO Amid Arrest Crisis  

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