Telegram has announced that it will collaborate with The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to tackle the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its platform. This move follows years of criticism and pressure, especially given Telegram’s stance on end-to-end encryption and user privacy. Critics had long accused Telegram of being a safe haven for criminal activities, which intensified after the arrest of its founder, Pavel Durov, in France.

Under this new partnership, Telegram will gain access to IWF’s “hashes” — unique digital fingerprints of known CSAM images and videos. This will allow Telegram to quickly identify and remove such content from its platform. The IWF will also use its advanced tools to detect non-photographic depictions of abuse, including AI-generated imagery.

Telegram had previously resisted working with external organizations like IWF, claiming that its internal moderation system was sufficient. However, with its user base nearing 950 million and growing concerns over child exploitation material, the pressure became too great to ignore. Unlike other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, which had long partnered with organizations like IWF and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Telegram’s approach was seen as inadequate.

The arrest of Durov, who faces charges for alleged complicity in criminal activity on the platform, has seemingly spurred changes at Telegram. In addition to the IWF collaboration, Telegram has agreed to provide authorities with user data, such as IP addresses and phone numbers, in cases of legal violation, further aligning itself with global standards for moderating illegal content.

While this is a positive step toward addressing the platform’s moderation issues, critics argue that there is still much work to be done to ensure a safer online environment. Telegram has yet to release reports detailing the amount of CSAM it has removed, and many are waiting to see if the platform will follow through with its promises of increased transparency and action.