Telegram, which has recently received regulatory attention from various countries, is seeking to implement compliance. According to Kazakh news, Telegram has strengthened compliance and communication with the Kazakh government and announced that it will set up a local office in Kazakhstan.
Kazakh government announces Telegram opens local office
Telegram has agreed to appoint a local representative and establish an office in the Republic of Kazakhstan. This news was officially announced by the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Space Industry on October 14. According to the minister Zhaslan Madiyev, Telegram’s establishment of a local physical office will help strengthen the monitoring and management of content on the platform.
Madiyev said: "This is an important step to control content on the Telegram platform." The necessity for this measure comes from the high usage of the platform in Kazakhstan.
Telegram has a huge user base in Kazakhstan
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov pointed out that there are currently 12.5 million monthly users in Kazakhstan using Telegram, which accounts for more than half of the country’s total population of 20 million. This represents a 25% increase compared to 2023, demonstrating Telegram’s importance and influence in the region.
Kazakhstan talks with US tech companies to discuss data protection, fraud
News of Telegram opening an office in Kazakhstan comes as Kazakh officials meet with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a number of U.S. technology companies, including industry giants like Meta and Apple. During the meeting, Kazakh officials discussed issues related to data protection, combating fraud and fake accounts on social platforms, especially platforms such as Meta’s WhatsApp.
Meta mentioned in its report for the third quarter of 2024 that the company has blocked 1.2 billion fake accounts globally through artificial intelligence technology, showing its high priority in combating false activities.
Kazakh Digital Minister Madiyev also emphasized that the government is working closely with international partners to ensure the safety of Kazakhs in the digital space: "We are actively cooperating with Telegram to quickly remove illegal content and block illegal channels." Madiyev said, according to Under Kazakhstan regulations, online platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp and TikTok are now required to set up local representatives.
(Who is responsible for online fraud? Banks and Facebook condone fraud and ignore it, and the British government forces businesses to compensate)
Telegram pushes for compliance globally, CEO under investigation in France
Telegram’s decision to open an office in Kazakhstan reflects the platform’s global push for stronger compliance measures and comes as founder Pavel Durov faces regulatory pressure in France.
Since French authorities indicted Durov on multiple charges in late August 2023, Telegram has stepped up its crackdown on illegal activity on the platform. In September, Durov revealed that Telegram had provided IP addresses and phone numbers of users who violated regulations upon request from relevant authorities. In addition, Durov also said that Telegram has updated its search engine to remove some "problematic" content and uses artificial intelligence technology to identify illegal content.
(Telegram founder Pavel Durov was indicted for a felony: assisting illegal transactions and organized crime, with a maximum sentence of ten years)
Although Telegram has not officially responded to the news, the news shows that Telegram is beginning to actively respond to global regulatory pressure.
This article Telegram will set up an office in Kazakhstan to strengthen compliance and regulatory communication first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.