Telegram Joins Forces with UK's Internet Watch Foundation to Combat Child Sexual Abuse Material

In a significant move to enhance its content moderation practices, Telegram, the popular cloud-based messaging app, has partnered with the UK's Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to proactively prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its platform.

Background and Context

Telegram, owned by Russian entrepreneurs Pavel and Nikolai Durov, has faced criticism in the past for its handling of content moderation. The platform's CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France earlier this year on charges of complicity in various criminal activities, including the distribution of CSAM. This arrest was part of a broader investigation that highlighted the need for more stringent measures to combat illegal content on the app.

Partnership with IWF

The decision to join the IWF marks a "transformational first step" for Telegram, according to Derek Ray-Hill, interim CEO at the IWF. This partnership grants Telegram access to the IWF’s extensive datasets and cutting-edge technology designed to identify and remove CSAM.

As part of the agreement, Telegram will utilize IWF ‘hashes’ – unique digital fingerprints of known child sexual abuse images and videos – to instantly identify and block such content in public areas of the platform. The IWF will also report directly to Telegram whenever CSAM is detected, ensuring swift removal of the material.

Enhanced Content Moderation Tools

In addition to using IWF’s hashes, Telegram will deploy tools to block non-photographic depictions of child sexual abuse, including AI-generated content. The platform will also target links to webpages known to harbor CSAM, further strengthening its mechanisms to protect users.

Remi Vaughn, head of press and media relations at Telegram, emphasized that the IWF’s datasets and tools will significantly enhance the platform's existing content moderation strategies, which include reports from users, AI, machine learning, and hash-matching.

Commitment to User Safety

This collaboration is a response to the growing concern over the spread of CSAM online. The IWF has previously reported thousands of instances of CSAM on Telegram since 2022, including severe category A imagery. Despite these reports, the content was removed by Telegram, but the platform's approach to content moderation remained under scrutiny.

Pavel Durov, following his release on bail, acknowledged the need for more action against illegal content and committed to improving Telegram's moderation practices. This partnership with the IWF is a tangible step towards that commitment.

Global Implications

The move is seen as an important moment not just for Telegram but for the broader tech industry. It sets a precedent for other platforms to take more proactive measures in combating CSAM. As Ray-Hill stated, "Child sexual abuse imagery is a horror that blights our world wherever it exists. The children in these images and videos matter. We will stop at nothing to prevent the images and videos of their suffering being spread online."

For expats in Spain and users worldwide, this development signals a stronger commitment to user safety and a more robust approach to content moderation on one of the world's most popular messaging apps.