Telegram Cracks Down on Channels Involved in Blackmail and Extortion Activities
In a recent statement, Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, addressed the issue of extortion and doxing on the platform. According to Durov, users send hundreds of messages about scams and extortion on Telegram every day.
Scammers have been threatening to expose users' personal information and demanding payment or extorting paid gifts and collectible usernames, the cost of which has risen to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Durov emphasized that Telegram is "not a place for doxing and extortion."
Durov promised to find those who run such channels on Telegram and noted that the platform blocks numerous channels for publishing personal information about a person without their consent and extortion. He called such actions illegal and immoral.
Some channels on Telegram have made a business out of publishing compromising posts and charging for their removal. Some channel administrators have been caught selling 'protection blocks', fees that victims must pay to avoid persecution. These blocks, according to Durov, indicate the presence of irrefutable evidence of the dissemination of slanderous posts.
Telegram, under Durov's leadership, has taken a generally decentralized and privacy-focused approach to handling extortion and doxing issues. This approach often complicates proactive intervention in such cases by Telegram itself. The platform typically does not regulate or remove content unless it clearly violates its terms of service or is subject to court orders.
Durov has historically resisted external pressures to censor or hand over user data, including from governments. His position reflects a broader commitment to privacy that sometimes presents challenges in controlling harmful behaviors like extortion or doxing on the platform.
Telegram offers private chats, secret chats with end-to-end encryption, and robust privacy settings to reduce risks related to doxing and extortion. Users can restrict who sees their personal details and block or report abusers.
In July 2025, Durov published a warning about extortion schemes in Telegram. He urged users to immediately report cases of extortion with evidence. As of now, there are no major publicized systemic anti-extortion initiatives by Telegram beyond standard user reporting and blocking features.
Despite the challenges, Durov remains committed to finding and eliminating channels that engage in extortion and doxing activities on Telegram. His stance underscores the platform's commitment to maintaining a balance between user privacy and safety in the face of malicious activities.
Telegram, under Durov's leadership, has highlighted the importance of boosting cybersecurity efforts to combat extortion and doxing, recognizing the rise in scammers leveraging technology to threaten users. Durov has emphasized that the platform will continue to prevent and punish those who use the service for illegal activities such as doxing and extortion, prioritizing user safety while upholding privacy.
