Compromised messenger

While registering Telegram, the detrimental effects of its malicious use cannot be overlooked.

Messaging app Telegram has formally applied to register , nearly a month after it was banned in Nepal. In July, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority had instructed all internet service providers to restrict access to the platform, citing its increasing use for criminal purposes. Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app known for its strong encryption, privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels. These features, combined with the company operators’ belief that governments should not interfere with people’s online activity, have rendered the app a safe space for sharing information censored by governments—as well as a playground for criminal activities globally. While the app has had some positive uses while trying to thwart authoritarian regimes, elsewhere, the platform is also used to share pornographic and pirated content and facilitate recruitment drives for extremist groups.