Winnipeg-based group helps spur U.K. probe into Telegram over child sexual abuse material concerns

A Winnipeg-based organization has helped spur an investigation into Telegram over child sexual abuse material concerns. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg)

A Winnipeg-based child protection organization has helped prompt an investigation into Telegram overseas, after providing evidence that the popular messaging app is allegedly being used to share child sexual abuse material.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, headquartered in Winnipeg, submitted evidence to Ofcom—the United Kingdom’s online safety watchdog—regarding the alleged presence and sharing of child sexual abuse content on Telegram.

That evidence, combined with Ofcom’s own assessment of the platform, was enough to trigger an investigation into whether Telegram has failed to comply with its legal duties under the U.K.’s Online Safety Act, the regulator said in a news release Tuesday.

Under the law, user-to-user services operating in the U.K. are required to have measures in place to reduce the risk that their platforms are used for illegal services. Operators must also have measures in place for removing illegal content when it does appear. Otherwise, platforms can be fined up to £18 million or 10 per cent of qualifying worldwide revenue.

The investigation is one of several Ofcom announced this week, including separate probes into Teen Chat and Chat Avenue over concerns that predators are using the platforms to groom children.

Lloyd Richardson, director of technology at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said the national charity has found that “significant amounts” of previously identified child sexual abuse and exploitation material are being made available through Telegram.

He added that many of the images and videos would likely be detected by widely available moderation tools, and that after the organization notified the company of user accounts, similar activity frequently re-emerged shortly after.

“(This) suggests that inadequate content moderation resources are being devoted to this problem,” he said. “These ongoing concerns lead us to report this information to U.K. regulators.”

Richardson said the organization has sent thousands of notifications to Telegram related to content and accounts on its service, though not all were directly related to the information provided to Ofcom.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Telegram told CTV News it categorically denies Ofcom’s accusations.

“Since 2018, Telegram has virtually eliminated the public spread of CSAM (child sexual abuse material) on its platform through world-class detection algorithms and cooperation with NGOs,” the statement reads.

“We are surprised by this investigation and concerned that it may be part of a broader attack on online platforms that defend freedom of speech and the right to privacy.”

Ofcom said it will provide updates on the investigation as it progresses.