The Indian Centre told the Delhi High Court that Telegram has become the "new dark web," linking "threat actors." This came as the government opposed Telegram's challenge to a temporary ban, alleging the platform actively enables criminals and child exploitation. The dispute stems from a "NEET Mafia" channel using the app to disseminate leaked exam papers.
How We Got Here
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) ordered a temporary ban on Telegram until June 22 following the cancellation of last month's NEET-UG exam. Telegram challenged the MeitY order under Section 69A of the IT Act, claiming it was unconstitutional and citing its own takedowns of 900+ illegal links.
The Numbers
- The Centre identified a "NEET Mafia" Telegram channel that had 18,617 subscribers before the ban.
- Government alleges Telegram's cloud architecture and public channels/groups (up to 2 lakh members) enable mass data dissemination for criminals.
- Features like automated bots and usernames (instead of phone numbers) help criminals hide identities, facilitating drug trafficking, terrorism, and financial fraud.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued Telegram failed to proactively address illegal channels despite repeated notices.
- MeitY also ordered disabling of Telegram's message-editing feature until June 30 as part of its restriction.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For founders building social apps in Bangalore and Mumbai, this case sets a critical precedent on platform liability for user-generated content and potential government intervention.
The Take
This case establishes a worrying precedent: the government is expanding Section 69A to demand active content moderation from encrypted messaging apps. The ruling will shape how all privacy-focused messaging apps operate in India, forcing them to choose between user anonymity and legal compliance.
Source:
Inc42 ↗