The app’s lack of moderation allows criminal activities to thrive in Southeast Asia

UN report reveals Telegram’s role in strengthening crime gangs in Southeast Asia: Report highlights billions laundered through unregulated channels

According to a report by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), criminal networks in Southeast Asia are increasing at an alarming rate. According to the October 10, 2024 report, criminals are turning to the encrypted messaging app Telegram to conduct large-scale illegal activities. The report claims that Telegram has enabled a fundamental change in the way organized crime operates, by providing a platform where illicit goods and services can be traded with little oversight.

Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users, is accused of hosting vast channels where hacked data such as credit card details, passwords and browser history are openly traded. “Tools used for cybercrime, including so-called deepfake software designed for fraud, and data-stealing malware, are also widely sold, while unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges offer money laundering services,” the report points out.

One particularly alarming ad, written in Chinese, read: “We move 3 million USDT stolen from abroad every day,” highlighting the ease with which criminal networks can launder stolen money through the platform. The report also points to “strong evidence that underground data markets are moving to Telegram and that suppliers are actively seeking out transnational organized crime groups in Southeast Asia.”

The region has become a major hub for a lucrative industry that targets victims around the world through fraudulent schemes, with many of these operations run by Chinese syndicates based in heavily fortified complexes staffed by trafficked workers. The UNODC estimates that this industry generates between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually.

The report follows similar allegations against Telegram after founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris in August. Durov, a Russian-born tech entrepreneur, is accused of allowing criminal activity on the platform, including the distribution of sexual images of children. France’s decision to charge Durov under a new, unprecedented law has sparked debate over the criminal responsibility of app providers and the balance between freedom of expression and law enforcement.

Despite the serious allegations, Telegram has not yet responded to the UNODC report or raised concerns about its role in facilitating organized crime.