Organised crime networks in Southeast Asia are increasingly using the messaging app Telegram to conduct large-scale illicit activities, according to a report released on Monday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The UN says that the app's encryption features have significantly changed the way these criminal enterprises operate, with the UNODC noting how hacked personal data, including credit card information, passwords and browser histories, are indiscriminately shared and spread throughout Telegram's largely unregulated channels.

The report added that criminal gangs in the region have embraced advanced technologies such as generative AI, malware and deepfakes to expand their illegal operations, while unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges are currently using the app to offer money laundering services.

According to the report, there are currently more than 10 deepfake software vendors that are working or are aiming to work with cybercriminals involved in fraud in South Asia.

The region has become a major hub for a multi-billion dollar industry led by Chinese and international criminal organisations, that are involved in fraudulent schemes generating between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually, UNODC said.

French authorities recently indicted Telegram founder Pavel Durov for allegedly facilitating the expansion of criminal activities on the platform, including the distribution of child exploitation material.

France's indictment represented a rare move against a platform like Telegram, with the arrest sparking debate over the role and responsibility of app providers in controlling content on their platforms.

Durov, who is currently on bail, said that he would work with authorities by handing over users' IP addresses and phone numbers upon legal request. He added he will remove certain app functionalities that have been heavily used for illegal actions in the past.

Earlier this month, South Korean authorities reportedly launched an investigation into Telegram's role in facilitating the spread of illicit content, particularly deepfake pornography, Reuters reported.

Recently, India’s Star Health Insurance suffered a significant data leak, with hackers using Telegram chatbots to obtain personal information including medical records and resulting in the insurance firm suing the app.

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