Telegram top's gripping can have a "chilling effect"

First loud resistance. Then a certain establishment in the lead. So believes researcher Timothy Koskie that the social media giants will react to the arrest of Telegram top figure Pavel Durov.

» Published: August 31 2024

Telegram top's gripping can have a "chilling effect"
Photo: Dmitri Lovetsky/AP/TT

The arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France has sparked discussions about social media's responsibility. Telegram is frequently used in the darker side of society and has even been nicknamed "terrorgram".

Durov likes to present himself as a champion of free speech and the right to digital privacy. The criminal charges concern his failure to act to prevent criminal activity on Telegram.

Controlled by a few

Timothy Koskie, a media researcher at the University of Sydney, notes that social media has become powerful and is controlled by a few, and sees the arrest as a step towards governments around the world starting to make demands and pressure the platforms.

The arrest could make representatives of Tiktok, X, and other platforms nervous.

This might be the beginning of authorities being able to go after people who are otherwise hard to reach, says Koskie.

X-owner Elon Musk has demanded that Durov be released, and Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski claims that France has "crossed a line". But after the initial loud protests, Koskie believes that Telegram and the major social media platforms will rather fall in line.

I think we'll see some resistance, but also that it will make some representatives avoid risks, that it will have a chilling effect.

Enormous in the South

Telegram has been pointed out as a forum for criminals, but it is also used, which is perhaps forgotten in the debate, as a regular social medium.

It's enormous. 800 million users use it. It's very important in Russia, and is a huge part of internet use in many countries, says Timothy Koskie.

If you're Swedish, you might know someone who's on Telegram. But in some societies in the global South, everyone uses it. It would really affect those societies if they lost access to Telegram, he says.

Regarding criminals and extremists on Telegram, Koskie guesses that most will sit tight, while the more paranoid might choose other platforms.

Telegram has got that reputation, but it's not the only place where criminal activity takes place. And on services that have better encryption, we know nothing about what's going on.

Telegram was launched in 2013 by brothers Nikolaj and Pavel Durov. It is primarily a messaging service like Whatsapp and Signal, but also has features like a social medium with channels that function like Facebook groups.

Currently, it has, according to its own statement, over 950 million users.

Telegram is used by government representatives in several countries and is a frequently used source of information in Russia's war in Ukraine, by both sides. Not least, accounts belonging to pro-Russian military bloggers have gained enormous spread.

On the platform, there are ordinary users but also opposition figures. Its lack of moderation and encryption options have made it popular among criminals and extremists, and it has been nicknamed "terrorgram".

Denmark's justice minister recently stated that lists with prices for different crimes, including those committed by Swedish teenagers in Denmark, have been published on Telegram.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One
1 MIN READ

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One Person Detained

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus
1 MIN READ

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus in Eslöv; Four Teens Arrested

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces
1 MIN READ

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces Charges in Pension Fund Bribery Case

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower
2 MIN READ

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults

Critics Challenge Proposal to End
3 MIN READ

Critics Challenge Proposal to End Summer Grazing for Swedish Dairy Cows

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery
1 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery Purchases Supporting Parties

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång Fire Investigated as Suspected Murder

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids
1 MIN READ

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids and Hazardous Substances

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact
2 MIN READ

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact from US Tariffs, Government Warns

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges for House Fire in Norway

Man Charged in Fatal Lund
1 MIN READ

Man Charged in Fatal Lund Knife Attack Linked to Drug Deal

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by
1 MIN READ

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by 30 Percent in 2024, Young Riders Most Affected

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for
1 MIN READ

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for Embezzling Millions from Municipalities

Teen Faces Court in Sweden
2 MIN READ

Teen Faces Court in Sweden for Alleged Sect-Linked Knife Attack

Elderly Man Critically Injured in
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man Critically Injured in Kävlinge Villa Fire

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief
1 MIN READ

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief Anna Saleem Högberg

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at
2 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at Migration Detention Centers

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to
1 MIN READ

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to Close Following Riksdag Decision

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Parents in Sweden Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Parents in Sweden Jailed for Locking Children in Basement

75-Year-Old Woman Cleared of Murder
1 MIN READ

75-Year-Old Woman Cleared of Murder Charges in Ale

Bribery Convictions in Sweden See
1 MIN READ

Bribery Convictions in Sweden See Rise in Gross Offenses

Suspect Detained in Norrköping Murder
1 MIN READ

Suspect Detained in Norrköping Murder Investigation

Sabotage Cuts Power to 500
1 MIN READ

Sabotage Cuts Power to 500 Homes in Småland, Police Investigate

Twelve Indicted in Major Scania
1 MIN READ

Twelve Indicted in Major Scania Drug Network Bust

Sun-Seeking App Trend Raises Skin
2 MIN READ

Sun-Seeking App Trend Raises Skin Cancer Concerns in Sweden

Sweden Braces for Year's Warmest
1 MIN READ

Sweden Braces for Year's Warmest Day Before Cold Snap Hits

Online Sect's Influence on Teen
4 MIN READ

Online Sect's Influence on Teen Knife Attacks Faces Court Scrutiny

Swedish Man Sentenced to 10
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Long-Term Abuse of Relative

Man Critically Injured in Sollefteå
1 MIN READ

Man Critically Injured in Sollefteå Workplace Accident

Child Seriously Injured After Fall
1 MIN READ

Child Seriously Injured After Fall from Window in Stockholm

Sweden's Spring Covid Vaccine Campaign
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Spring Covid Vaccine Campaign Focuses on High-Risk Groups

Stockholm Police Launch Pilot to
2 MIN READ

Stockholm Police Launch Pilot to Curb Violence Against Women

Anna-Karin Hatt Declines Centre Party
1 MIN READ

Anna-Karin Hatt Declines Centre Party Leadership Role

Expert Group to Guide Västra
1 MIN READ

Expert Group to Guide Västra Götaland After Millennium System Setback

Kristersson Calls for Doubling Sweden's
3 MIN READ

Kristersson Calls for Doubling Sweden's Conscription Numbers

Woman in Her 60s Killed
1 MIN READ

Woman in Her 60s Killed in Collision with Truck Near Kristianstad

Three Men Charged in Assault
1 MIN READ

Three Men Charged in Assault and Rape Case in Kristianstad

Sweden Proposes Stricter Housing Rules
3 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Stricter Housing Rules for New Immigrants