According to local media, the Turkish government has threatened to ban the social network and messaging app Telegram.
The newspaper Takvim reports that Turkish authorities are concerned about criminal activity on the platform.
Particularly troubling is the use of Telegram for drug trafficking, facilitating prostitution, and promoting illegal gambling. Users often pay for these services with cash or through digital methods like IBAN and cryptocurrency.
Criminal proceeds from such activities typically require laundering. Although Takvim does not explicitly mention this as a problem, it is likely that law enforcement is concerned about how the money from these crimes is distributed.
The Information and Communication Technologies Authority of Turkey (ICTA) is leading the efforts against Telegram. Reports indicate that ICTA has sent requests to Telegram’s London headquarters, but according to BTS, the platform has not responded.
If Turkey does indeed block Telegram, it will mark the second major instance of social media suppression in the country this year. Earlier this month, the government blocked Instagram, accusing the platform of censoring messages about the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Potential actions against Telegram in Turkey have less political context and focus more on issues related to criminal activity. Turkey is not the first to express concerns about the platform.
The use of Telegram by various militant groups and pro-democracy organizations raises concerns among many governments, especially due to accusations of using the platform for illegal activities similar to those mentioned earlier.
Moreover, payment processors are concerned about the role of social media in fraud. For example, in the UK, banks have noted that platforms like Facebook are used for fraudulent schemes and scams.
Although Telegram hasn’t been specifically targeted in these cases, it has been mentioned. Logan Porter, Director of Solution Engineering at SEON, a fraud prevention company using artificial intelligence, noted at Money20/20 that fraudsters sell their tools through Telegram channels.
“There are places on the dark web or Telegram channels where fraudsters sell the tools and courses on how to commit fraud. It’s very sophisticated,” he said.
Nevertheless, Telegram cannot be wholly blamed for this. The platform openly demonstrates its efforts to combat illegal activity by shutting down channels and pages used for distributing banned content and products.
Furthermore, many criminals avoid Telegram and use other platforms, sometimes even homemade ones. Last week, the UK’s National Crime Agency uncovered “Russian Coms,” a global service that provided subscribers with tools for committing crimes.
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