Telegram CEO Announces Increased Focus on Content Moderation

Telegram has recently faced significant criticism for its perceived failure to adequately moderate content on its platform. In response, Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, has announced plans to address these concerns by potentially removing features that have been exploited for illegal activities. Durov was arrested last week and questioned regarding allegations of fraud, money laundering, and facilitating the distribution of child pornography-related content.

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Pavel Durov addressed Telegram users, saying, “While 99.999% of our users are not involved in crime, the small fraction of 0.001% who are creating a negative image for the entire platform and put the interests of our nearly billion users at risk. That’s why this year, we are focused on improving our content moderation to turn it from a criticism point into a positive highlight.”

The Telegram chief did not detail the exact changes the company will implement but mentioned that Telegram has already taken action by disabling new media uploads to a standalone blogging tool “which appeared to be misused by anonymous users.” Additionally, Telegram has removed the less frequently used People Nearby feature, which “had problems with bots and scammers,” and will now highlight legitimate, verified businesses near users instead.

Notably, this is the first time the internet giant has disclosed modifications since his arrest.

Durov’s lawyer has criticized the investigation into the Telegram CEO, calling it absurd to hold Durov accountable for crimes allegedly committed by app users.

In a previous post, Durov acknowledged that Telegram is not flawless but refuted media claims that suggest it is an “anarchic paradise.” He emphasized, “We take down millions of harmful posts and channels every day.”

Durov expressed surprise at the French investigation, noting that authorities could have easily contacted Telegram’s EU representative or him directly to address any concerns. He commented, “When a country has issues with an internet service, the usual approach is to initiate legal action against the service itself.”