Telegram Is A Hotbed For Southeast Asian Organized Crime, New UN Report Says

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Julia Smith

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Julia Smith

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Julia is an experienced editor with a passion for covering a wide variety of beats. She loves all things politics and regularly covers regulatory updates on emerging technology here for Crypto News.

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Last updated:

October 7, 2024 15:41 EDT

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The encrypted messaging platform Telegram has changed how criminal organizations operate in Southeast Asia amid the legal troubles of its founder, Pavel Durov, according to a new United Nations report.

Telegram Has An Organized Crime Problem, United Nations Says

In the October 7 report, the UN noted that underregulated platforms such as virtual asset service providers (VASPs) are “being used by major organized crime groups to move, launder and integrate billions in criminal proceeds into the financial system without accountability.”

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), financial bosses earned between $18 billion and $37 billion in scams targeting victims in East and Southeast Asia in 2023 alone.

Meanwhile, Chainalysis’ 2024 Global Crypto Adoption Index shows that Central and Southern Asia and Oceania boast 7 of the top 20 countries driving crypto adoption worldwide.

“Organized crime groups are converging and exploiting vulnerabilities, and the evolving situation is rapidly outpacing governments’ capacity to contain it,” said Masood Karimipour, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “…It is more critical than ever for governments to recognize the severity, scale and reach of this truly global threat, and to prioritize solutions that address the rapidly evolving criminal ecosystem in the region.”

Pavel Durov Behind Bars?

The report marks the latest pushback Durov has experienced since he was arrested outside of Paris on August 24 for reportedly failing to reign in illegal content on Telegram.

Though Durov has since denied claims that the messaging app is an “anarchic paradise,” he admitted in a September 5 statement that the company has room to improve.

“Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950M caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform,” He said. That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon. “

Durov’s arrest has revived debates surrounding free speech and fair regulatory practices, with X CEO and long-time crypto investor Elon Musk calling for his release.

Currently out on bail, the encrypted messaging app’s founder faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros ($548,000).