Telegram’s reputation takes another hit as UN calls it ‘home of Southeast Asia’s cyber criminals’

According to a Monday report from the UN, powerful criminal networks in Southeast Asia now extensively use Telegram to conduct large-scale illicit activity. 

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

Underground data markets are moving to Telegram

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

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

Most of the criminal activities in these Southeast Asian countries are reportedly run by Chinese syndicates using trafficked workers who are camped in fortified compounds. The industry generates between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually and targets victims across the world with various fraudulent schemes. 

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

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

South Korea is allegedly the country most targeted by deepfake pornography. Some weeks ago, there was mass public outcry after deepfake porn targeting female stars was found circulating private Telegram groups. 

What followed was an investigation into Telegram to ascertain whether it abets online sex crimes. 

The noose tightens  

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

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

In light of those events, Durov said the app would hand over users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities who would make legal requests. He also promised that the app would get rid of some features that have been abused for illegal activity.