UK Ofcom Launches Investigation Into Telegram Over CSAM and Child Grooming Concerns
UK media regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into Telegram, citing serious concerns about the platform being used to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and by predators to groom children. The investigation marks one of the most significant regulatory actions against Telegram in a major Western market and comes under the UK's Online Safety Act.
What Ofcom Is Investigating
Ofcom's investigation focuses on whether Telegram is complying with its obligations under the Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to take proportionate measures to prevent illegal content — including CSAM — from being shared or accessible. The regulator has received evidence that Telegram's channels and groups have been used to distribute illegal material and that the platform's features have facilitated grooming of minors.
Telegram's Approach to Moderation
Telegram has historically operated with a light moderation touch, positioning itself as a privacy-focused alternative to mainstream platforms. However, this approach has repeatedly drawn criticism from law enforcement and child protection organisations who argue that the platform's encryption and lax content policies create spaces that predators and criminal networks exploit. Telegram has made incremental moderation improvements following the arrest of founder Pavel Durov in France in 2024 but critics say these are insufficient.
The Online Safety Act Context
The UK's Online Safety Act came into full effect in 2025, creating a legal framework under which Ofcom can compel platforms to take specific protective measures or face substantial fines — up to 10% of global annual turnover. The investigation into Telegram is an early test of the Act's enforcement mechanisms and signals that Ofcom is prepared to use its powers against platforms that fail to adequately protect children.
Wider Implications
The Ofcom investigation follows similar regulatory pressure on Telegram in the EU under the Digital Services Act. Together, these actions represent a coordinated effort by European regulators to hold the platform accountable for illegal content at scale. The outcome of Ofcom's investigation could set precedents for how end-to-end encrypted platforms are regulated across the continent.
The Bottom Line
Ofcom's Telegram investigation is a landmark test of the UK Online Safety Act. If the regulator finds Telegram non-compliant, the resulting fines and mandatory measures could fundamentally alter how the platform operates in the UK — and how it approaches content moderation globally.