Durov Vows Telegram Will Tackle Content Moderation Concerns

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced on Friday that the platform would make changes to address criticisms of its content moderation policies, particularly in light of recent legal scrutiny. The move comes after Durov was placed under formal investigation in France, where authorities are probing the use of Telegram for illicit activities, including fraud, money laundering, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material.

In a message to his 12.2 million Telegram subscribers, Durov acknowledged that while the vast majority of users are law-abiding, a small fraction of users involved in illegal activities tarnish the platform's reputation and pose risks to its nearly one billion users. He expressed the company's commitment to improving moderation practices and turning the platform's content policies into a point of praise rather than criticism.

Although Durov did not elaborate on all the specific steps Telegram would take, he did outline some immediate changes. For instance, the platform has disabled new media uploads to a standalone blogging tool, which had reportedly been exploited by anonymous actors for illegal purposes. Additionally, Telegram removed its People Nearby feature due to problems with bots and scammers. The feature will be replaced with a new function showcasing verified businesses near users, aiming to foster more legitimate interactions.

These updates mark Telegram's first significant changes since Durov's legal troubles began in France, where he was arrested, questioned for four days, and then released on bail. His lawyer has argued that it is unreasonable to hold Durov accountable for the illegal activities conducted by users on the platform, a sentiment echoed by many in the tech industry. The case, however, has sparked broader discussions about the responsibilities of social media platforms in policing criminal activity and the extent to which platform owners can or should be held liable.

As part of its efforts to address these issues, Telegram has also quietly updated its frequently asked questions (FAQ) page, removing language that previously stated the platform does not process reports of illegal content in private chats, which are protected by end-to-end encryption. This change signals a shift in the company’s approach to moderation and its willingness to adjust longstanding policies in response to growing legal pressures.

Durov’s announcement also highlighted that Telegram now has over 10 million paid subscribers, a milestone that reflects the platform’s continued growth despite the controversies. However, experts in the tech world, such as Katie Harbath, a former policy director at Meta, caution that tackling content moderation will be more challenging than Durov may anticipate. Harbath noted that other tech CEOs, including Elon Musk, have discovered that resolving such issues requires more than a few incremental adjustments, and Durov may face similar challenges in the coming months.

In his defense, Durov emphasized that Telegram actively removes millions of harmful posts and channels every day. He also expressed surprise over the French investigation, stating that authorities could have contacted Telegram’s European Union representative or himself directly to address concerns. He pointed out that legal action should typically be taken against the service itself, rather than its individual executives, if a country is dissatisfied with its practices.

The developments at Telegram underscore the ongoing debate around free speech, platform accountability, and the balance between user privacy and the need for effective content moderation. As Telegram moves forward with its proposed changes, the company will likely continue to face scrutiny from both legal authorities and industry observers as it navigates these complex issues.