The investigation will examine whether Telegram has failed, or is failing, to comply with its duties in relation to illegal content, according to multiple reports. This action is part of a wider crackdown from Ofcom on services it suspects could be flouting the UK's sweeping online safety requirements, according to reports. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection provided evidence to Ofcom of users sharing child sex abuse material on Telegram.
Under the Online Safety Act, user-to-user services must take steps to proactively screen for harmful material and remove it. The legislation requires providers to assess and mitigate the risk of child sexual abuse on their platforms, according to reports. Firms failing to protect children face serious consequences under the Online Safety Act, according to reports. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater, major media reports state. In serious cases, Ofcom can seek a court order to block access to the service in the UK, according to multiple sources.
Telegram categorically denies Ofcom's accusations. The messaging service says it has virtually eliminated the public spread of CSAM on its platform since 2018 through detection algorithms and cooperation with NGOs. Telegram expressed concern that the investigation may be part of a broader attack on platforms defending freedom of speech and privacy.
Since 2018, Telegram has virtually eliminated the public spread of CSAM on its platform through world-class detection algorithms and cooperation with [non-governmental organisations].
Child protection advocates have welcomed the investigation. The NSPCC strongly supports Ofcom ramping up action to tackle child sexual abuse, including opening this investigation into Telegram, according to Rani Govender, associate head of policy at the organization. Recent NSPCC research revealed around 100 child sexual abuse image offences are being recorded by police every day, Govender noted. Child sexual abuse destroys lives and circulation of images re-victimizes children, according to Emma Hardy of the Internet Watch Foundation. Hardy emphasized that Telegram needs to toughen safeguarding measures and adopt a zero-tolerance approach.
Campaigners say Telegram's light oversight has made it a tool for drug dealers and far-right groups, according to advocacy groups.
A specific case study illustrates the types of content at issue. Metro uncovered a Telegram group where users ask others to use AI tools to create non-consensual sexual content, according to multiple reports. Telegram's terms of service forbid nonconsensual pornography, major media sources indicate. Despite these terms, the group remains active with recent posts including requests for AI-edited explicit images, reports show. This case highlights challenges in content enforcement.
We are surprised by this investigation and concerned that it may be part of a broader attack on online platforms that defend freedom of speech and the right to privacy.
Ofcom has also opened investigations into Teen Chat and Chat Avenue over illegal content and grooming risks.
Key unknowns remain about the investigation's specifics. The exact nature of evidence provided by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection regarding CSAM on Telegram has not been disclosed. It is unclear how many instances of CSAM or related illegal content Telegram has detected and removed since 2018. The specific safeguarding measures Telegram currently has in place, and how they compare to legal requirements under the Online Safety Act, have not been detailed by the company.
Additional uncertainties surround the investigation's progression. The timeline and expected duration of Ofcom's investigation into Telegram have not been announced. Whether there have been any prior enforcement actions or warnings against Telegram by UK authorities related to online safety remains unknown.
The investigation could have significant implications for Telegram and broader platform regulation. If Ofcom finds violations, the messaging service could face substantial financial penalties or even blocking in the UK market. The case may establish important precedents for how the Online Safety Act applies to encrypted messaging services that prioritize user privacy. This disagreement highlights a central conflict in the investigation: Telegram claims robust prevention efforts, while child protection groups argue these are insufficient, raising questions about the platform's actual compliance and safety for users.