Messaging applications like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram have become an integral part of everyday life. However, what many users may not realise is that these platforms are also being exploited by criminal syndicates for illegal activities.
Criminal organisations have continuously adapted their modus operandi, leveraging new technologies to remain undetected. Encrypted messaging apps like Telegram have seen a significant rise in usage among these networks, offering a secure and discreet platform for criminal communication, helping them evade law enforcement and security measures. This shift in tactics makes it crucial for authorities to stay ahead of these evolving methods.
Understanding how criminals misuse these popular messaging platforms is essential in the fight against online crime, fraud, and illegal activities.
The Application of Choice for Criminal Activity
Telegram has been established as a significant platform due to its strong emphasis on privacy and security. For example, in countries like El Salvador, users rely on Telegram to communicate, seeking protection from potential government surveillance.
Similarly, during my time in China, I noticed that individuals often use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass state monitoring on these mainstream messaging platforms and preserve their anonymity.
In a recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), it was stated that there was extensive usage of messaging applications, specifically Telegram, by robust criminal networks in Southeast Asia.
The report also revealed how the application had reshaped these organisations' modus operandi as it facilitated large-scale illicit activities that were difficult to carry out. The application's discreetness and stealthiness allowed these organisations to act with relative impunity, raising concerns among policymakers and law enforcement agencies.
There is an indistinct line between legitimate communication and criminal exploitation, which makes implications for Telegram's popularity well-known and still under development, especially regarding privacy and encrypted communications between users.
Legal Actions Against Telegram
The rise in criminal activities in Telegram has come into the view of regulatory authorities from different parts of the world. Recently, France enacted a strict law to charge Pavel Durov, its founder, with permitting criminal activities within his application.
This move underpins that governments are increasingly looking for ways to act against various app providers over failures to prevent illicit behaviour within the app.
In August, Durov was arrested in Paris with the serious charges against the platform, including child exploitation materials distribution. The legal step has stirred debates about the criminal liability of tech companies and the fragile balance between the protection of freeedom of speech and enforcement of laws aimed at the protection of vulnerable people from being exploited.
On a daily sensitive data like credit card information, passwords, and browsing history are openly traded in Telegram with a very limited amont of moderation. Which has encouraged a heavier criminal activity presence in the messaging platform.
It has been reported that services like deep-fakes and data-stealing malware is also being overtly sold in the platform. And to make matters worse, unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges are also operating within the app which further complicates the fight against organised crime and their activities.
The Evolution of Organised Crime Tactics
Criminal syndicates in Southeast Asia are increasingly utilising sophisticated techniques to enhance their operations. The usage of malware, Gen-AI, and deepfake technology into their criminal strategies highlights a concerning trend within the region.
The rise of explicit deepfakes in various parts of Asia has drawn significant attention, leading to investigations into the involvement of communication apps like Telegram in facilitating online crimes.
Historically, criminal organisations have carefully selected communication tools that facilitate their operations while minimising the risk of detection by authorities. Thus, digital communication presents opportunities and challenges for law enforcement agencies tasked with dismantling these enterprises.
As the UNODC report suggested, organised crime groups increasingly utilise Telegram to communicate, leveraging its features to coordinate activities, trade illicit goods, and share sensitive information.
Telegram has transformed from a simple communication tool into a platform for selling illicit goods and services. While founder Pavel Durov describes Telegram as an “anarchic paradise,” he maintains that the app adheres to European Union laws. He argues that holding the platform or its owner accountable for the illegal activities within its ecosystem is unjust.
As Telegram increasingly becomes a hub for criminal activity, regulators and law enforcement agencies must adapt their strategies accordingly. There is a pressing need for international cooperation and comprehensive regulations to address the challenges posed by digital platforms used for illicit purposes.
