British regulators have decided to investigate the widely used communication medium ‘Telegram’ over child safety concerns.
Britain’s communications regulator Ofcom launched an investigation into messaging app Telegram on Tuesday after evidence emerged that child sexual abuse material was being shared on the platform.
The latest investigation is part of UK efforts to crack down on children being harmed online without clear accountability.
While the country’s 2023 Online Safety Act sets strict standards for social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants them to go further.
The government is consulting on a possible social media ban for children under 16, and Starmer met with social media company executives last week, where he asked them to take more responsibility.
Ofcom said it had received evidence from the Canadian Center for Child Protection regarding the alleged presence and sharing of child sexual abuse material on Telegram, and had conducted its own assessment of the platform.
“In light of this, we have decided to launch an investigation to investigate whether Telegram has failed, or is failing, to comply with its duties in relation to illegal content,” Ofcom said in a statement.
While Telegram “categorically” denied Ofcom’s allegations, and said that since 2018 it has “virtually eliminated” the public dissemination of child sexual abuse material on its platform through detection algorithms.
“We are surprised by this investigation and concerned that it may be part of a broader attack on online platforms that protect freedom of speech and the right to privacy,” Dubai-based company Telegram said in a statement.
Notably, Telegram was fined by Australia’s online safety regulator in February for delays in responding to questions about the measures it took to prevent the spread of child abuse and violent extremist content.
Following the situation, Britain’s Ofcom said on Tuesday it had also launched an investigation into Teen Chat and Chat Avenue to determine whether they were meeting their duties to protect children at risk of being groomed by predators.
Ofcom said that after engagement with the companies, it remained dissatisfied with whether they were providing adequate protection to British children from the risks of grooming.
“These companies must do more to protect children, or face serious consequences under the Online Protection Act,” Susan Cater, director of enforcement at Ofcom, said in the statement.
This came as evidence from the Canadian Center for Child Protection raised concerns about the potential CSAM presence on Telegram.
Additionally, Ofcom also conducted its own review before launching an investigation.
