UN Report: Telegram Fuels Southeast Asian Cybercrime Surge

The United Nations highlights Telegram's role in enabling organized crime networks to thrive across Southeast Asia.

Criminal networks in Southeast Asia are exploiting Telegram's encryption to conduct large-scale illicit activities, according to a UN report.
The app is used to trade hacked data, deepfake software, and offer money laundering services with little moderation.
The UNODC estimates these underground markets generate up to $36.5 billion annually, with many operations based in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
Following the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France, the platform agreed to share some user data with law enforcement.
Telegram's privacy changes have prompted some extremist groups to shift to other platforms like SimpleX Chat.