UN report: Criminal networks in Southeast Asia abuse Telegram for illegal activities

Telegram will facilitate large-scale illegal activities, marking a significant shift in the way organized crime operates, according to a report released by the United Nations on Monday.

The report, released by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlights Telegram’s role in enabling the trafficking of hacked data, including credit card details, passwords and browser history, on a massive scale.

The app’s vast channels, with minimal moderation, have become a haven for criminal activity, the report suggests.

Quoting from the report, an advertisement in Chinese boasted: “We move 3 million USDT stolen from abroad every day.”

The UNODC added that there is “strong evidence that underground data markets are moving to Telegram and that suppliers are actively seeking out transnational organized crime groups in Southeast Asia.”

Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC Deputy Representative for South East Asia and the Pacific, highlighted the app’s ease of use for criminals, saying: “For consumers, this means their data is at greater risk of ending up in scams or other criminal activities than ever before. ”

The report also sheds light on Southeast Asia’s role as a key hub for a multi-billion dollar industry fueled by fraudulent schemes that target victims around the world.

Many of these operations are run by Chinese syndicates from heavily fortified complexes staffed by trafficked workers. According to UNODC estimates, the industry generates between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually.

The criminal networks have integrated new technologies into their activities, such as deepfake software and data-stealing malware.

The report noted that more than ten vendors of deepfake software have been identified, specifically targeting criminal groups engaged in cyber fraud in the region.

The UN report followed legal action against Telegram founder Pavel Durov. In August, Durov was arrested in Paris and charged with allowing criminal activity on his platform, including the distribution of sexual images of children.

This unprecedented legal move by France, under a tough new law with no international equivalent, has sparked debate over the liability of app providers in facilitating illegal activities.

Durov, who is currently out on bail, responded to the allegations by announcing that Telegram would cooperate with authorities by handing over users’ IP addresses and phone numbers when legally requested. He also promised to remove certain features that had been misused for illegal purposes.

Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users worldwide, has not yet commented on the UN report or the charges against its founder.

The report also draws attention to investigations into Telegram in other parts of Asia. In South Korea, authorities are investigating the app’s role in encouraging sexual crimes online, as the country is estimated to be the most targeted by deepfake pornography.

Furthermore, a recent incident in India saw a hacker use Telegram chatbots to leak sensitive data from Star Health, one of the country’s top insurers.

The UNODC report underlines the need for stronger regulatory frameworks and better cooperation between governments and technology platforms to combat the increasing misuse of encrypted apps such as Telegram by criminal networks.

Boluwatife Enome

Source:Reuters

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