Telegram recently announced a series of new features aimed at combating crime and illicit activities on its platform. This decision comes in the wake of recent scrutiny and legal disputes involving the founder and CEO of the company, Pavel Durov, acknowledging the need for change over the platform’s potential use for illegal activities. His decision comes in response to growing concerns about the misuse of the app’s features, particularly its bots.

Telegram’s bots have become valuable tools across various industries, are versatile, and serve numerous purposes, from automating support tasks to facilitating e-commerce transactions. They also offer a wide range of entertainment options, allowing users to listen to music, play games, and even access casino-style experiences directly through the app.

For instance, music bots can share songs and lyrics, while gaming bots offer everything from simple puzzles to complex multiplayer games. Some users use them to engage with Telegram casino bots, which according to casino expert Nikita Jones, provide text-based gambling experiences using cryptocurrencies. To enjoy the convenience of these services, Jones cautions players to only play on sites that have first been professionally reviewed for safety features and other features.

Given all the new and improved business and entertainment app integration Telegram has enabled, sadly threat actors have seen potential in the app too. As a result, many have found ways to misuse this technology for various illegal purposes.

Researchers in cybersecurity and law enforcement have found concerning patterns in the misuse of Telegram bot features by criminals lately. Threat actors have been using these bots to streamline and expand their activities.

The troubling aspect is the use of bots related to financial fraud. Cybercriminals have established bot networks to handle and circulate stolen financial information, provide access to services that bypass OTP security measures, and orchestrate automated crypto scams.

However, following updates and changes made by Telegram in light of these developments, the platform has introduced various new features and policy modifications into its system. The biggest change has been the discontinuation of the “People Nearby” feature, a feature that previously allowed users to pinpoint other individuals using Telegram within close proximity to them.

Durov says this decision comes in the wake of issues related to bot interactions and fraudulent activities, which only impact 0.1 % of Telegram’s user base. In its place, Telegram is set to unveil a new feature called “Businesses Nearby” that’s aimed at promoting verified and legitimate businesses within the platform.

Another significant change is the disabling of new media uploads to Telegraph, Telegram’s standalone blogging tool. Reports from security experts indicate that threat actors had been exploiting Telegraph to create fake versions of authentic websites. These fraudulent web pages were meticulously designed to resemble legitimate login screens or important notices from reputable businesses or services.

Additionally, the fake pages created on Telegraph were being used for phishing scams. These scams aim to deceive users into believing they are interacting with a legitimate website or service. The ultimate goal of these fake pages is to manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive personal details like login information, financial particulars, or other confidential data.

Given the association between Telegraph and Telegram, the links leading to these fabricated pages appeared more trustworthy to unsuspecting targets. According to Durov, this tool has been used maliciously by individuals prompting the platform to limit its use.

Telegram has also revised its guidelines surrounding private chats and moderation. The platform plans to implement a read-only mode for its in-app browser, further enhancing security measures. These changes signal a significant shift in Telegram’s approach to content moderation, which has historically been relatively hands-off.

Telegram’s plans include introducing a feature that will limit the functionality of its built-in web browser to read-only mode. This could prevent users from interacting with potentially malicious websites or submitting information through the in-app browser, thereby enhancing security.

These changes are a significant departure from Telegram’s historical stance of minimal intervention in user content and conversations. The platform is moving towards a more active role in content moderation.

The announcement of these new features comes as Telegram faces increasing pressure from regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies worldwide. A recent investigation by The New York Times analyzed over 3.2 million Telegram messages from more than 16,000 channels.

What they revealed is just how the platform has become a hub for various illegal activities, including drug dealing, weapons sales, and the spread of extremist content. These changes indicate that Telegram is trying to balance its reputation for privacy and freedom of speech with the need to address concerns about illegal activities on its platform.

The tech industry is closely watching Telegram’s response to these challenges. As the platform implements these new features, it will need to navigate the delicate balance between maintaining user privacy and complying with legislative requirements to combat illegal activities.

The platform’s ability to adapt to these challenges while maintaining its core values will likely shape its future.