All articles tagged with #telegram
Russia is deploying a patchwork of mobile outages, site restrictions, and sweeping Telegram blocks as part of a push toward a sovereign, government-controlled internet, with officials signaling a broader rollout and a domestic alternative; analysts describe it as an opaque, stepwise tightening that could isolate Russia from global networks and disrupt daily life and business.
CBS News reports that Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, a little‑known group that has claimed a string of antisemitic attacks across Europe, told CBS it will target U.S. and Israeli interests worldwide. Attacks include London ambulances burned and a car set on fire in Antwerp; Dutch police have arrested five teenagers in Rotterdam linked to a synagogue attack. Analysts say the group may be Iran-aligned and relying on Telegram to coordinate, with security services reviewing CCTV footage as investigations continue and authorities urge caution about state sponsorship or copycat tactics.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a Telegram video showing him at a cafe with an aide, countering Iranian state-media rumours that he was dead or injured; Reuters verified the cafe location, and Netanyahu quips about coffee as tensions with Iran persist.
Russia escalates regulatory pressure on Telegram as tensions with founder Pavel Durov deepen, signaling a broader clampdown on the messaging platform.
A Hong Kong man identified as Eric says he and his girlfriend were secretly filmed having sex in a Shenzhen hotel, and the clip appeared in illicit spy-cam chats marketed as porn. BBC reports note thousands of similar videos circulated on sites and Telegram, which is often used for distributing such content despite China’s bans; a trader linked to the material profited from it. Telegram says it forbids non-consensual porn and moderates content. The couple are traumatized, and the story underscores ongoing privacy violations and the global illicit spy-cam market amid China’s crackdown on obscene material online.
A Guardian analysis shows millions on Telegram have created and shared AI-generated nude images, with at least 150 channels worldwide offering nudification services or nude feeds, making graphic content easily accessible and scalable. Telegram says such material violates its rules and has removed more than 952,000 pieces of offending material in 2025; meanwhile nudification apps with AI tech have hundreds of millions of downloads on Google Play and Apple App Store. The report links AI-enabled abuse to a broader rise in online violence against women, highlights regulatory gaps in many countries, and describes real-world harms for victims including reputational damage, job loss, and ostracism.
Telegram has been affected by a Russian government move to freeze $500 million in bonds, highlighting ongoing financial sanctions and tensions between Russia and international markets.
Google has filed a lawsuit to dismantle the Lighthouse criminal enterprise responsible for widespread phishing scams targeting Americans through Telegram channels, aiming to stop the spread of scam texts like E-Z Pass and USPS notifications, and to hold the perpetrators accountable for wire fraud and other charges.
Telegram for Android's beta version 12.2.0 introduces a new 'Liquid Glass' UI feature in the text input and panel areas, which has received negative feedback from users. The change is optional and not yet in the stable release, with uncertain future adoption. Similar designs have been added to iOS earlier this month.
An online group called Purgatory claimed responsibility for recent swatting incidents at U.S. college campuses, including Villanova, by making false emergency calls to draw law enforcement to these locations. The group used Telegram to publicize their actions, but their claims remain unverified, and authorities suspect their involvement in multiple hoaxes.
Russia is restricting secure communications by blocking end-to-end encrypted calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, citing security concerns, amidst broader efforts to control internet use. The article also covers various security incidents and measures, including accidental disclosures by ICE agents, alleged Russian hacking of a Norwegian dam, and increased facial recognition deployment in the UK.
Russia is restricting calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, citing concerns over their use for sabotage and terrorism, as part of a broader effort to tighten control over internet use and demand data sharing from foreign tech companies.
Russia is partially blocking voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram as part of a broader effort to tighten internet control, citing concerns over crime and security, while also promoting a new government-monitored messaging app, MAX. Despite previous bans and restrictions, these measures aim to limit encrypted communications and enforce compliance with Russian laws.
Russia has begun restricting voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp, accusing the platforms of non-compliance with Russian laws related to law enforcement data sharing, as part of Moscow's broader effort to reduce dependence on foreign technology and increase control over its internet infrastructure.
A UK trial revealed how Russia-linked operatives, using Telegram and a gig economy approach, recruited individuals like Dylan Earl to carry out terrorist attacks in Europe, including arson in London, as part of a broader shadow war against the West. The operations are characterized by low-cost, deniable attacks aimed at destabilizing Ukraine's allies and spreading chaos in Europe.