Telegram has removed around 15 million illicit groups on its messaging platform using artificial intelligence (AI). Over the past few months, the platform has been under immense pressure to clean up its messaging app of illicit content. The pressure has led to the arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov, in France, where he faces charges over harmful and illegal content shared on the app.
While Durov, who served his first day in court, remains under strict restrictions, the platform appears to be getting down to business. According to Telegram, it has so far removed more than 15.4 million illicit groups and channels related to fraud and other illegal activities.
In its statement, Telegram highlighted that the feat was achieved using sophisticated AI management tools. The move comes after the platform announced a crackdown in September, with Durov indicating that they were trying to comply with government requests.
Telegram launches new moderation page to monitor efforts
The new moderation page is in line with the company’s transparency policy. According to a post from Durov’s Telegram page, the company wants the public to see its efforts in combating these illegal activities. It noted that the moderation team has been working behind the scenes over the past few months, removing content that violates its terms, and thanked users for their help in mitigating this threat.
Durov promised to provide regular updates that users can see in real time, showing how much work the moderation team is doing.
According to the moderation page, the platform has seen a higher rate of enforcement since Durov’s arrest. The page notes that the removal of illicit accounts has been in effect since 2015. The number of currently banned illicit groups and channels is around 15,474,022, which is the number for 2024 alone.
Telegram has also intensified its crackdown on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) this year, banning a total of 703,809 groups and channels.
Aside from user reports and proactive work from the moderation team, Telegram has also reported thousands of cases that have been processed through third-party organizations against CSAM, resulting in immediate bans. Breaking down the number, it highlights the top four groups that filed the most reports, including the Internet Watch Foundation, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, and Stitching Offlimits.
Since 2016, Telegram has been actively working to combat terrorist violence and propaganda by providing daily updates on its efforts, which have been recognized by Europol. The company noted that it has worked with several organizations on these fronts since 2022, and has blocked 100 million pieces of terrorist content. In 2024, Telegram revealed that it blocked 129,099 pieces of terrorism-related content.
Durov remains in custody amid moves to combat illegal substances
Durov will remain under the watchful eye of French authorities after his first day in court. The Telegram CEO was accompanied by his legal counsel, who answered several questions about the platform’s activities.
Although Durov declined to comment on the case after the hearing, he said he had faith in the French justice system and his innocence. However, if found guilty, he could spend up to 10 years in prison and be fined $550,000.
Meanwhile, Telegram recently announced a partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), signaling an effort to combat illegal child sexual exploitation material being shared on the platform.
The charity will dent and remove this material using advanced AI tools. IWF CEO Derek Ray Hill highlighted the great achievements the two companies can achieve together. He said: “We look forward to seeing what further steps we can take together to create a world where the spread of sexual abuse material online is virtually impossible.”