Telegram Remains a Haven for Hate Speech Shielded by Corporate Secrecy

We know too little about the platform providing 'bulletproof' chat services to the Internet's worst actors

A recent article published in Mother Jones titled "How Telegram Became the Center of the Internet" concerns me over its unfairly flattering portrayal of the social media company and platform Telegram.

“How Telegram Became the Center of the Internet”, Mother Jones, 12/1/2023

While the author acknowledges the platform’s unmoderated nature has made it a haven for criminals, extremists, and foreign actors seeking to spread disinformation and propaganda, the article fails to adequately address Telegram's lax moderation policies. It is important to understand the role those policies play in enabling crime, psychological operations, and the general perpetuation of harmful conspiracy theories aimed at the West. The author’s suggestion that the platform has become the “spiritual home” of the Internet is outrageously facile and laughable on its face until you consider the myriad conspiracy theories with a theological bent which are disseminated on the app.

Second, the article lacks critical analy…