Powerful Criminal Networks in Southeast Asia Using Telegram, Says UN Report
A United Nations report released on Monday revealed that powerful criminal networks in Southeast Asia are extensively using the messaging app Telegram, which has facilitated a significant shift in the way organized crime conducts large-scale illicit activities.
The report comes after France charged Pavel Durov, the boss of Telegram, under a tough new law for allowing criminal activities on the platform. This marks the latest in a series of allegations against the encrypted app.
According to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, hacked data such as credit card details, passwords, and browser history are openly traded on Telegram’s vast channels with little moderation. The app also serves as a marketplace for tools used in cybercrime, including deepfake software for fraud and data-stealing malware. Additionally, unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges on the platform offer money laundering services.
The report highlighted that there is strong evidence of underground data markets shifting to Telegram and vendors actively targeting transnational organized crime groups in Southeast Asia. The region has become a major hub for a multi-billion dollar industry that perpetrates fraudulent schemes globally.
With Chinese syndicates operating from fortified compounds and generating billions annually, Southeast Asia has become a focal point for cybercrime. Durov, who was arrested in Paris, faces charges related to criminal activities on the platform, including the dissemination of illegal content.
Telegram, with close to 1 billion users, has faced scrutiny over its role in enabling criminal activities. Durov has pledged to cooperate with legal authorities and remove features that have been exploited for illegal purposes.
UNODC’s deputy representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific warned that Telegram provides an easily navigable environment for criminals, putting consumers’ data at a higher risk of being used in scams and criminal activities.
The report also noted that criminal groups in the region have embraced new technologies such as deepfake software, generative artificial intelligence, and malware to enhance their operations. More than 10 deepfake software service providers targeting cyber-enabled fraud in Southeast Asia have been identified by UNODC.
Police in South Korea are investigating Telegram for its role in online sex crimes, while a hacker recently leaked sensitive data from a top Indian insurer using chatbots on the platform. The leaked data included personal information, medical records, and identification documents.
Telegram continues to face scrutiny for its role in facilitating criminal activities, prompting calls for stricter regulation and enforcement to curb illicit behavior on the platform.
Source: New York Post
