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*Southeast Asia fingered
The United Nations report has claimed that Telegram is used to facilitate illicit activities, marking a significant shift in the way organised crime operates.
The report released on Monday is issued by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The report stated that Telegram was enabling the trade of hacked data, including credit card details, passwords, and browser history, on a vast scale, adding that the app had become a haven for criminal activities.
The report quoted an ad in Chinese boasting, “We move 3 million USDT stolen from overseas per day.”
According to the report, “There is a strong evidence of underground data markets moving to Telegram and vendors actively looking to target transnational organised crime groups based in Southeast Asia.”
UNODC Deputy Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Benedikt Hofmann, emphasised the app’s ease of use for criminals, stating, “For consumers, this means their data is at a higher risk of being fed into scams or other criminal activities more than ever before.”
The report explained Southeast Asia’s role as a major hub for a multi-billion-dollar industry driven by fraudulent schemes targeting victims worldwide.
Many of these operations are run by Chinese syndicates from heavily fortified compounds staffed by trafficked workers.
According to UNODC estimates, the industry generates between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually.
The criminal networks have integrated new technologies into their operations, such as deep fakes software and data-stealing malware.
The report noted that more than 10 deep fakes software providers had been identified, specifically targeting criminal groups engaged in cyber-enabled fraud in the region.
The UN report came on the heels of legal actions taken against Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, who was arrested in Paris and charged with allowing criminal activities on his platform, including the distribution of sexual images of children.
This unprecedented legal move by France, under a tough new law with no international equivalent, has sparked debates about the liability of app providers in facilitating illegal activities.
Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users globally, has not yet commented on the UN report or the charges against its founder.
The report also drew attention to investigations into Telegram in other parts of Asia.
In South Korea, authorities are probing the app’s role in abetting online sex crimes, as the country is estimated to be the most targeted by deep fake pornography.
UNODC’s report underscored the need for stronger regulatory frameworks and better cooperation between governments and technology platforms to curb the growing misuse of encrypted apps.
