Telegram Partners with Internet Watch Foundation to Combat Child Sexual Abuse Material

By Blessing Nweke

Telegram, the messaging platform long criticized for its use in distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), has announced its first-ever partnership with the U.K.-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to combat such content. The partnership, announced Tuesday, marks a significant shift for the platform, which has been known for its resistance to moderation and compliance with government orders.

The IWF, which maintains a global database of known abuse imagery, will now be able to use its tools to automatically detect and remove CSAM from Telegram. The collaboration allows Telegram to scan its platform for images that match those in the IWF’s database, as well as block links to sites hosting such material. The IWF’s tools will also identify AI-generated abuse content, marking a step forward in addressing emerging forms of exploitation.

This partnership comes amid mounting pressure on Telegram, particularly after its co-founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in August in France as part of a broader investigation into the platform’s role in illegal activities, including the distribution of explicit material involving minors. While Telegram has previously removed child abuse content, it has faced criticism for being unresponsive to efforts by global child safety organizations like the IWF and the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Durov’s arrest, which remains under investigation, appears to have influenced Telegram’s shift toward increased moderation. Just weeks after his arrest, Durov pledged to “significantly improve” content moderation on the platform. IWF’s interim CEO, Derek Ray-Hill, hailed the partnership as a “transformational first step,” emphasizing the importance of working with Telegram to ensure that CSAM is removed effectively and comprehensively.

Although the platform has not responded to media requests for comment, the collaboration signals a new commitment to child safety, which could have broad implications for both Telegram’s future and its reputation in the global tech landscape.