FOGINT: Telegram Steps Up Its Cooperation with Law Enforcement
December 12, 2024
This short item is the work of the dinobaby. The “fog” is from Gifr.com.
Engadget, an online news service, reported “Telegram Finally Takes Action to Remove CSAM from Its Platform.” France picks up Telegram founder Pavel Durov and explains via his attorney how the prison system works in the country. Mr. Durov, not yet in prison, posted an alleged Euro 5 million with the understanding he could not leave the country. According to Engadget, Mr. Durov is further modifying his attitude toward “free speech” and “freedom.”
The article states:
Telegram is taking a significant step to reduce child sexual abuse material (CSAM), partnering with the International Watch Foundation (IWF) four months after the former’s founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested. The French authorities issued 12 charges against Durov in August, including complicity in “distributing, offering or making available pornographic images of minors, in an organized group” and “possessing pornographic images of minors.”
For those not familiar with the International Watch Foundation, the organization serves as a “hub” for law enforcement and companies acting as intermediaries for those engaged in buying, leasing, selling, or exchanging illicit images or videos of children. Since 2013, Telegram has mostly been obstinate when asked to cooperate with investigators. The company has waved its hands and insisted that it is not into curtailing free speech.
After the French snagged Mr. Durov, he showed a sudden interest in cooperating with authorities. The Engadget report says:
Telegram has taken other steps since Durov’s arrest, announcing in September that it would hand over IP addresses and phone numbers in legal requests — something it fought in the past. Durov must remain in France for the foreseeable future.
What’s Telegram going to do after releasing handles, phone numbers, and possibly some of that log data allegedly held in servers available to the company? The answer is, “Telegram is pursuing its next big thing.” Engadget does not ask, “What’s Telegram’s next act?” Surprisingly a preview of Telegram’s future is unfolding in TON Foundation training sessions in Vancouver, Istanbul, and numerous other locations.
But taking that “real” work next step is not in the cards for most Telegram watchers. The “finally” is simply bringing down the curtain of Telegram’s first act. More acts are already on stage.
Stephen E Arnold, December 12, 2024
Comments
Got something to say?
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
