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Telegram's Durov Faces Investigation for Illicit Content Sharing

4/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Pavel Durov, Telegram's co-founder, is under a French investigation for permitting illicit content.
AI Forensics found about 25,000 users shared sexually explicit images, including deepfakes, across 16 Telegram channels.
Researchers criticized Telegram for weak moderation, noting groups reopened soon after shutdowns.
Telegram asserts non-consensual image sharing violates its terms and that its moderation is more effective than current platforms.

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Story summary

Pavel Durov, Telegram's co-founder, is under a French investigation for permitting illicit content.
AI Forensics found about 25,000 users shared sexually explicit images, including deepfakes, across 16 Telegram channels.
Researchers criticized Telegram for weak moderation, noting groups reopened soon after shutdowns.
Telegram asserts non-consensual image sharing violates its terms and that its moderation is more effective than current platforms.