Pavel Durov arrest: Is Telegram the go-to app for terrorists?

Aug. 27, 2024, 9 a.m.

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The recent apprehension of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in Paris has brought renewed attention to the messaging app.

The French and Russian citizen was taken into custody at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening upon his arrival from Azerbaijan.

Durov, 39, was detained based on an arrest warrant alleging that his platform has been used for illicit activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and even facilitating terrorism.

French newspaper Le Monde reported that Durov’s arrest was connected to “legal proceedings accusing Telegram of involvement in various cases related to drug trafficking, supporting terrorism, and cyberstalking.”

But what do we know about Telegram? What concerns do authorities have about it? Is it a favored communication tool for terrorists?

Let’s take a closer look:

What do we know about Telegram?

Telegram was launched by Durov and his brother in 2013.

The app's origins can be traced back to the Russian government's crackdown following widespread pro-democracy demonstrations that shook Moscow in late 2011 and 2012.

These protests prompted Russian authorities to tighten control over the digital realm, implementing regulations that compelled internet providers to block websites and mobile operators to store call records and messages that could be shared with security agencies.

According to Vox, the app asserts it is a completely secure messaging platform.

The application, boasting approximately 700 million users globally, is renowned for its commitment to user privacy.

Its frequently asked questions page declares its objective as “safeguarding your personal data from external entities, including marketers, advertisers, and so forth.”

As per Android Authority, Telegram’s USP is end-to-end encryption.

This implies that no one, be it the government, law enforcement, or your employer, can access your communications within the app.

Nevertheless, it is crucial to note that Telegram solely encrypts its calls and “secret chats.”

Pavel Durov was apprehended at Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday evening. Reuters An additional security measure is that sharing your phone number is not mandatory for establishing contact with others.

This can simply be done by exchanging usernames.

If privacy is a concern, you can even exchange contact information through QR codes.

Moreover, users cannot share or capture screenshots of messages sent in "secret chats."

Users also have the option to set messages to disappear after sending - with a time range from one second to one week.

A message deleted by the user is removed for everyone.

Users can delete chats from others’ as well.

While not all conversations are protected by end-to-end encryption, they are still encrypted, according to the website.

Which is why many people are enticed to use the app.

“It is known for its unbreakable encryption,” said Ahmet S Yayla, a counter-terrorism expert from George Mason University who has spent two years tracking ISIS on social media, speaking to Vox. “Individuals appreciate the concept of privacy.”

Advertisement You don’t even need a SIM card to use Telegram.

As an alternative, you can purchase a phone number within Telegram using its cryptocurrency, Toncoin.

"The SIM card associated with your Telegram account doesn't need to be the same one you use on the phone with the app," Yayla explained. "This means you can create a completely anonymous profile."

Is it the go-to app for terrorists?

The challenge is that individuals who are most drawn to these privacy features often include criminals and terrorists.

ISIS, in particular, has repeatedly utilized the platform to coordinate attacks.

Advertisement According to Vox, ISIS used Telegram to disseminate its propaganda following the 2015 attacks in Paris.

The terrorist organization also recruited individuals responsible for the Christmas market attack in Berlin in 2016 through the app.

An ISIS leader in Raqqa also communicated through Telegram to provide instructions to the shooter in the New Year's Eve attack at Istanbul's Reina nightclub.

While Telegram’s FAQ section outlines its stance on removing illegal content, including blocking terrorist bots, real-world events demonstrate that this is not always consistently achieved.

Though Telegram asserts having removed numerous ISIS accounts, experts maintain that this represents a minimal impact.

Advertisement Jade Parker, a senior research associate at the TAPSTRI research group, stated to Vox, “It is possible to establish a new channel in a matter of 30 seconds. Consequently, instead of opening three channels, [ISIS] can now create 50 channels to disseminate propaganda.”

“Deleting their channels doesn’t put a dent in their activity.”

“Telegram lacks effectiveness in shutting down these [ISIS-operated] channels,” Yayla added.

According to Cyfirma.com, ISIS militants persist in utilizing the platform to recruit individuals to their cause.

For instance, their Telegram channels have leveraged alleged atrocities against women and children in the Al Hol camp to attract followers.

It then steered these followers towards more extreme content found on other platforms.

These Telegram channels also act as fundraising mechanisms, organizing donation campaigns that are used to finance terrorist operations.

According to India Today, terror groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Resistance Front and the People’s Anti-Fascist Front also make use of Telegram frequently.

These groups not only outline their targets and disseminate their propaganda through these apps, but they also post videos and images of their violent attacks on India's armed forces.

Sources informed PTI that the IT Ministry has requested an update from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the situation in India, specifically if there are any violations within the country.

“Considering the recent events in France, the IT Ministry has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate outstanding complaints against Telegram and explore potential actions that can be taken.”

Sources indicate that the primary concern is whether there are any complaints, if a similar scenario exists in India, and the current situation and necessary actions.

Telegram was also utilized during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to g-net research, the official Hamas channel transmitted 1,145 messages through the app on October 7th alone.

Uri Klempner, writing for Insight, highlighted Telegram’s emoji feature, warning that the app had contributed to extremism during and after the attacks.

“Emojis, by their very nature, are subjective and open to interpretation, and their presence in news consumption can have unforeseen consequences. Particularly when paired with sensitive and divisive content, these symbols can influence a user’s perception, subconsciously guiding them towards a specific emotional response when encountering information,” Klempner wrote.

Klempner explored the concept of social influence, which suggests that individuals gauge public sentiment through the lens of other users’ comments.

He contended that this process enables individuals to develop their own viewpoints, which often align with what they perceive as public opinion.

“Exacerbating the problem is the extensive reach of some Telegram posts. Many accumulate tens or even hundreds of thousands of views within hours of being published. However, only a small percentage of viewers might respond using emojis (See Fig. 5 where 0.08% of viewers reacted to the broadcast). This limited group unwittingly becomes the emotional barometer for the majority, influencing how individuals internalize and retain these images and videos, along with their associated emotions,” Klempner wrote.

Telegram has adopted a ‘don’t blame the messenger mentality’ – in a literal sense.

In a blog post titled “Don’t Blame The Messenger,” Telegram argued that terrorists would simply transition to ‘perfectly viable alternatives to the existing encrypted app.’

It remains to be seen how governments around the world react to Pavel’s arrest.

With inputs from agencies