**Ofcom**, the United Kingdom's independent communications regulator, has initiated an investigation into **Telegram** based on evidence indicating its use for sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). ### Online Safety Act Investigation The investigation, launched under the UK's Online Safety Act, aims to determine whether the social media and instant messaging (IM) service is adhering to its illegal content safety duties. These duties mandate the prevention of CSAM sharing on the platform. Ofcom stated that it received evidence from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection regarding the alleged presence and sharing of CSAM on **Telegram**, and conducted its own assessment of the platform.  "In light of this, we have decided to open an investigation to examine whether **Telegram** has failed, or is failing, to comply with its duties in relation to illegal content," Ofcom said. ### Telegram's Response **Telegram** has denied **Ofcom's** accusations, asserting that it has "virtually eliminated the public spread of CSAM" on its platform since 2018. "We are surprised by this investigation and concerned that it may be part of a broader attack on online platforms that defend freedom of speech and the right to privacy," Telegram stated. ### Broader Investigations **Ofcom** has also launched formal investigations into two teen chat sites (Teen Chat and Chat Avenue) due to concerns about potential grooming of children by predators. These investigations aim to assess whether these services are taking the necessary steps to mitigate these risks. The UK's online safety watchdog is also probing **X** under the UK's Online Safety Act over nonconsensual sexually explicit content generated using the Grok AI chatbot account. ### Potential Penalties If **Ofcom** identifies compliance failures, it can impose fines of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. In severe cases of non-compliance, **Ofcom** can request a court order effectively banning the offending platform in the United Kingdom. "In the most serious cases of non-compliance, and where appropriate given risks of harm to individuals in the UK, we can seek a court order to require third parties to take action to disrupt the business of the provider," **Ofcom** noted. "This may require third parties (such as providers of payment or advertising services, or Internet Service Providers) to withdraw services from, or block access to, a regulated service in the UK."