Telegram may have more ‘bad news’ in Europe under new social media laws – Times of India

Telegram may be subject to more legal problems in Europe. A day after the instant messaging app’s co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov was, in France, charged for ‘criminal use’ of the platform, the European Commission is scrutinising Telegram’s user numbers within the bloc, as it could trigger stricter regulations under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The DSA imposes greater obligations on platforms with over 45 million monthly active users in the EU, including risk identification, mitigation measures, and third-party auditing.As per a report by news agency AFP, Telegram previously claimed 41 million users, falling short of this threshold. However, the Commission has expressed doubts about the accuracy of this figure.

Why this may be a problem for Telegram

Under the DSA, platforms must update their figures every six months. Reportedly, Telegram’s recent refusal to provide specific user numbers during the mandatory six-month update has further fueled the investigation.
Telegram insisted that it had “significantly fewer than 45 million average monthly active recipients in the EU”. If the Commission determines that Telegram does meet the 45 million user mark, it will be classified as a “very large” platform, subject to the DSA’s stricter rules.
If it is designated as a very large platform, it is obliged to take measures to stop the ‘criminal’ activities it has been alleged to be involved in as per the new social media rules. The European Union has already designated 25 platforms as “very large” including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.
“What we are asking for is a precise figure. Telegram merely says they are sharply below the threshold,” Thomas Regnier, commission spokesperson on digital issues, told the agency.
Violations under the DSA can be met with sanctions, mainly in the form of fines but Telegram has insisted the platform complies with EU rules.
“Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards,” the company said.