Telegram’s reputation takes another hit as UN calls it ‘home to Southeast Asia’s cybercriminals’

Powerful criminal networks in Southeast Asia are now widely using Telegram to carry out large-scale illegal activities, according to a Monday report from the UN.

The app facilitates the trading of hacked data, including credit card details and passwords, and the sale of cybercrime tools such as malware and deepfake software.

Underground data markets move to Telegram

Telegram can’t seem to catch a break. The UN report claims that a cybercrime storm is brewing, and the messaging platform is at its center. There is reportedly strong evidence that underground data markets are targeting the messaging platform and targeting transnational organized crime groups in Southeast Asia.

According to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, these criminal groups operate in Southeast Asia by circulating malware, generative artificial intelligence and deepfakes.

Most criminal activity in these Southeast Asian countries is reportedly led by Chinese syndicates using trafficked workers housed in fortified camps. The industry generates between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually and targets victims around the world with various fraudulent schemes.

The UN report identified Telegram’s encrypted messaging and large group capabilities as the two main factors enabling these syndicates and other bad actors on the app.

The UN report also identified more than ten providers of deepfake software services targeting criminal groups in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, investigations into the platform’s role in online sex crimes and data breaches continue in South Korea and India, respectively.

South Korea is reportedly the country most targeted by deepfake pornography. A few weeks ago, there was massive public outrage after deepfake porn targeting female stars was found in private Telegram groups.

What followed was an investigation into Telegram to determine whether it fuels online sex crimes.

The noose is tightening

The UN report comes after the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in Paris in August. He was subsequently charged with allowing criminal activity on the platform while in custody.

Durov was charged under a new French law with no international equivalent. However, it may have set a precedent in the area of ​​platform liability. Durov was released on bail, but investigations into Telegram’s role in facilitating illegal activities, including the distribution of harmful content, continue.

In light of these events, Durov said the app would hand over users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities who would file legal requests. He also promised that the app would remove some features that have been misused for illegal activities.