Telegram app a safe haven for cybercriminals

The Kerala High Court was on Monday informed by the state police that instant messaging mobile application 'Telegram' has become a safe haven for cybercriminals and pitched for bringing such apps under the purview of the law. In an affidavit on a petition seeking a ban on Telegram, the state police's Cyberdom operation officer submitted users of the app do not need to furnish their original name or mobile phone number to register for accessing it.

Petitioner Atheena Solomon from Kozhikode alleged that child abuse and terrorism contents were made available on the platform. The affidavit submitted criminals engaging in cybercrime use this facility and carry out fraudulent activities hiding their original identity.

The app was being widely used for propagating pornographic materials and committing financial and credit card frauds, Cyberdome, technological research, and development Centre of the state Police conceived as a Cyber Centre of excellence in cybersecurity, added. Police noted that a user of the Telegram app could hide his registered mobile number even from the admins of groups or channels and could still be able to sent text, images, videos or files anonymously. It also supported a secret chat.

Also, the app, whose servers were abroad, did not provide any support to law enforcement agencies unlike other messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook, the affidavit charged. It was becoming nearly impossible to trace users because of the unwillingness of the app providers to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, the police contended and said there was a need to bring such applications under the law of the country..

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