Telegram Under Scrutiny in India, But Ban not Imminent: Reports

As a seasoned crypto investor with roots deeply embedded in the Indian soil, I’ve witnessed the dynamic landscape of our nation’s digital sphere evolve over the years. The ongoing investigation into Telegram, a cornerstone of our cryptocurrency ecosystem, has raised some eyebrows, but it’s important to separate speculation from fact.

As a crypto investor, I’m closely watching developments regarding Telegram, a key messaging platform within our community. While it’s currently under review in India, the indications are that an outright ban isn’t imminent as per several recent reports.

In simple terms, an Indian news source, Moneycontrol, reported that India’s cybercrime unit is investigating potential misuse of Telegram for illegal activities. If the investigating agency finds it necessary, they could potentially ban Telegram within India, which is known as the world’s largest democracy.

It appears that no immediate ban is planned for Telegram, as it currently adheres to India’s Information Technology regulations. According to anonymous sources from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the investigation into Telegram’s use in the ongoing exam paper leak scandal for undergraduate medical program admissions is ongoing and focused on potential misuse.

As a crypto investor, I’m closely monitoring an ongoing investigation led by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This investigation is being carried out collaboratively with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), ensuring comprehensive coverage of the digital landscape.

According to reports from the news agency PTI, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has sought information from the Home Ministry regarding the current status and potential breaches in India following the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France over the weekend.

As an analyst, I would rephrase the statement as follows: Previously, India prohibited TikTok, alongside 58 other Chinese apps, following a lethal border dispute with China. Yet, a legal challenge by the Indian government against WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta, encountered obstacles. In response to a demand to break encryption, WhatsApp’s representative stated in court that if such an action were required, the platform would cease to exist.

Ayush Ranjan, CEO of Huddle01, stated that a local ban on Telegram could lead to long-term harm for business growth and marketing efforts of over 300 Indian web3 initiatives. He explained that this restriction would ripple through the price formation of these projects’ tokens since millions of Indians actively use it for communication. In essence, if the ban is implemented, users may be compelled to switch to alternative apps.

India has previously barred foreign cryptocurrency exchanges, despite ambiguity regarding how many Indian residents circumvented the restriction by employing Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to persist in utilizing these platforms. However, the prohibition was lifted for certain of those exchanges following their acquisition of licenses.

In simpler terms, neither the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre nor Telegram provided an immediate response when asked for a comment by CoinDesk.