EU probes Telegram, according to FT
The European Commission is said to be investigating the messaging app's adherence to its digital regulations. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The European Commission is investigating whether Telegram has violated EU digital regulations by potentially providing inaccurate user data, according to a report by the Financial Times on Wednesday, citing sources.
This scrutiny from the EU coincides with a French government inquiry into alleged criminal activities on Telegram that led to the arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov. Durov, 39, was taken into custody upon arriving at a Paris airport on Saturday after flying in from Azerbaijan. He has since been released from police custody and has moved to court for a potential indictment, with a decision expected late Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the EU investigation informed the Financial Times that the commission's Joint Research Centre is conducting a technical analysis to ascertain the number of Telegram users within the EU.
“We have a way through our own systems and calculations to determine how accurate the user data is,” stated Thomas Regnier, a commission spokesperson for digital issues. “And if we think that they haven’t been providing accurate user data, we can unilaterally designate them [as a very large platform] on the basis of our own investigation.”
Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which was enacted earlier this year, platforms deemed ‘Very Large Online Platforms’ (with over 45 million monthly users) must adhere to various data protection and advertising requirements.
Telegram asserts it has 41 million monthly users in the EU. In a statement released on Sunday, the company affirmed its compliance with EU laws and content-moderation policies, deeming it “absurd” to suggest that Durov bears responsibility for the misuse of the platform by malicious actors.
In May, Telegram appointed a Belgian legal representative to ensure compliance with EU regulations. Earlier this month, the Belgian Institute of Post and Telecommunications indicated it could not confirm that Telegram had more than 41 million monthly users.
According to the Financial Times report, Telegram was expected to submit updated user numbers this month but only reported having “significantly fewer than 45 million average monthly active recipients in the EU.”
Two EU officials asserted that Telegram's failure to provide updated data constitutes a violation of the DSA, suggesting that the investigation would likely conclude that the actual user count exceeds the threshold for “very large online platforms.”
Durov, a Russian entrepreneur who also holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was arrested as part of a larger investigation into child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, and other criminal acts on the platform. Additionally, he faces allegations of refusing to assist law enforcement in probing cyber and financial crimes.
The international reaction to Durov’s arrest has been strong, with many viewing it as part of a broader effort by Western governments to curtail free speech.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
This scrutiny from the EU coincides with a French government inquiry into alleged criminal activities on Telegram that led to the arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov. Durov, 39, was taken into custody upon arriving at a Paris airport on Saturday after flying in from Azerbaijan. He has since been released from police custody and has moved to court for a potential indictment, with a decision expected late Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the EU investigation informed the Financial Times that the commission's Joint Research Centre is conducting a technical analysis to ascertain the number of Telegram users within the EU.
“We have a way through our own systems and calculations to determine how accurate the user data is,” stated Thomas Regnier, a commission spokesperson for digital issues. “And if we think that they haven’t been providing accurate user data, we can unilaterally designate them [as a very large platform] on the basis of our own investigation.”
Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which was enacted earlier this year, platforms deemed ‘Very Large Online Platforms’ (with over 45 million monthly users) must adhere to various data protection and advertising requirements.
Telegram asserts it has 41 million monthly users in the EU. In a statement released on Sunday, the company affirmed its compliance with EU laws and content-moderation policies, deeming it “absurd” to suggest that Durov bears responsibility for the misuse of the platform by malicious actors.
In May, Telegram appointed a Belgian legal representative to ensure compliance with EU regulations. Earlier this month, the Belgian Institute of Post and Telecommunications indicated it could not confirm that Telegram had more than 41 million monthly users.
According to the Financial Times report, Telegram was expected to submit updated user numbers this month but only reported having “significantly fewer than 45 million average monthly active recipients in the EU.”
Two EU officials asserted that Telegram's failure to provide updated data constitutes a violation of the DSA, suggesting that the investigation would likely conclude that the actual user count exceeds the threshold for “very large online platforms.”
Durov, a Russian entrepreneur who also holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was arrested as part of a larger investigation into child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, and other criminal acts on the platform. Additionally, he faces allegations of refusing to assist law enforcement in probing cyber and financial crimes.
The international reaction to Durov’s arrest has been strong, with many viewing it as part of a broader effort by Western governments to curtail free speech.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
