UK regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Telegram under the Online Safety Act 2023, examining whether the platform has met its legal duties to protect UK users from child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This is Ofcom's most significant enforcement action against a major messaging platform to date. The investigation follows a similar probe into X opened in January 2026. Ofcom can fine non-compliant companies up to 10% of worldwide revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater, and can seek court orders to block platforms in the UK. The case highlights the tension between encrypted private messaging and content moderation obligations, with Ofcom currently not mandating client-side scanning. Telegram had previously joined the Internet Watch Foundation in December 2024 and deployed CSAM detection tools on public parts of its platform.
Sort: