Russia's media regulator has accused Telegram of enabling a black market for personal data by failing to eliminate third-party services that sell such information.
Roskomnadzor, Russia's state media regulator, has made accusations against Telegram for not adequately addressing the issue of third-party services that sell personal data of Russian citizens. The agency claimed that Telegram has developed and maintains a digital infrastructure that allows users to access stolen personal information through these services. They reported that, despite the removal of up to 100 such services weekly in 2026, new bots continue to emerge, drawing attention to an ongoing problem within the platform.
Roskomnadzor stated that since 2022, up to 8,400 of these third-party services had been eliminated, suggesting a substantial effort by Telegram to control this issue. However, the situation appears unchanged as new ways to access personal information continue to arise. This ongoing struggle has led the regulatory body to take a firmer stance against Telegram, calling for more immediate actions and placing the responsibility on the messaging platform to prevent criminal activities that exploit user data.
The allegations come amid a broader pattern of increasing restrictions on Telegram by the Russian government, signifying a heightened concern over data privacy and security. This situation underscores the challenges that digital communication platforms face in navigating regulatory environments, especially in countries where government oversight of technology and personal data protection is intensifying.
