Brussels is currently investigating Telegram for potentially violating EU digital regulations by not providing accurate user numbers. The EU’s scrutiny is centered on whether Telegram deliberately understated its user base in the EU to avoid surpassing the 45 million user threshold.
This threshold is crucial because it determines whether a platform falls under stricter regulations established by the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to control the influence of large online platforms.
EU officials suspect that Telegram may have manipulated its reported user count to remain below this critical threshold. If found to have misrepresented its numbers, Telegram could be classified as a “very large online platform,” which would trigger additional obligations such as enhanced content moderation, third-party audits, and mandatory data sharing with the European Commission.
This heightened scrutiny aims to ensure that major platforms comply with regulations designed to manage their impact and responsibilities.
Brussels Investigates Telegram for Underreporting Users to Evade EU Digital Regulations
In addition to the EU probe, Telegram is under investigation in France for alleged criminal activities on the platform. This French inquiry has recently led to the arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, who is now a French-Emirati citizen. The legal proceedings in France will determine whether Durov faces charges or will be released, adding another layer of complexity to the situation surrounding Telegram.
Telegram had previously reported having 41 million users in the EU, but it did not provide the updated user count required by the DSA this month. Instead, the company stated it had “significantly fewer than 45 million” average monthly active users in the EU.
This failure to comply with the DSA’s reporting requirements raises concerns that the true number of EU users might exceed the threshold, potentially leading to stricter regulatory measures.
The EU’s Joint Research Centre is conducting a technical assessment to verify Telegram’s user data. If the investigation finds discrepancies, the European Commission could unilaterally designate Telegram as a very large platform, imposing stringent compliance requirements similar to those faced by major online entities like Instagram, Google, and TikTok. This situation highlights the ongoing debate over how best to regulate influential digital platforms and ensure they adhere to EU regulations.
