Telegram Removes 15 Million Groups & Channels with AI in 2024

Telegram's Increased Moderation Efforts

This year has seen Telegram facing significant scrutiny and demands for improved content moderation. This pressure arose following the arrest of its founder, Pavel Durov, in France. He is currently facing legal challenges related to the dissemination of potentially damaging material through the messaging application.

Following a declaration of a stricter approach to content control in September, Telegram reports the removal of 15.4 million groups and channels. These were identified as sources of harmful content, including fraudulent schemes and terrorist-related material, throughout 2024.

The company attributes this intensified effort to the integration of advanced AI moderation tools. This enhancement has significantly bolstered their ability to identify and remove problematic content.

New Transparency Measures

Telegram has launched a dedicated moderation page. This initiative aims to provide greater transparency regarding its content moderation practices to the public. The announcement was made via a post on Pavel Durov’s official Telegram channel.

According to the information presented on Telegram’s moderation page, there has been a marked increase in enforcement actions since Durov’s arrest in August.

Durov remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings in France. However, he has been released on bail amounting to €5 million.

The platform continues to refine its moderation strategies. This includes leveraging artificial intelligence to proactively address harmful content and maintain a safer environment for its users.