[Exclusive] 'Telegram' Turned into a Hotbed of Crime... Police Only Requested Investigation via Email

Last Year, Seoul Police Stations Surpassed 10,000 Cases of 'Telegram Investigation Cooperation'
69% Increase in One Year
"Urgent Need to Join the Budapest Convention"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] As crimes using Telegram, such as drug trafficking and digital sex crimes, have surged, it has been confirmed that police investigations face limitations.

According to the "Status of Requests for Cooperation in Telegram Investigations by Seoul Police Stations over the Past Three Years" submitted by the National Police Agency to Jeong Woo-taek, a member of the People Power Party, frontline police stations requested cooperation for Telegram investigations 12,771 times last year, an increase of 68.9% compared to 7,560 cases in 2020. As of August this year, 6,366 cases have been recorded, and it is expected to exceed 10,000 cases by the end of the year. The strong security features of Telegram are being exploited for criminal activities.

Frontline police officers unanimously say that even if they send emails to 'abuse@telegram.org', they receive responses less than 1% of the time. Many investigations have been halted due to difficulties in tracking suspects on Telegram. It becomes impossible to proceed with investigations when the suspect's whereabouts are unknown.

Recently, Mr. A reported to the police that Mr. B secretly entered his Telegram and posted messages in a group chat, but the police decided to suspend the investigation and close the case, citing difficulties in tracing Telegram IP addresses. Another police station decided to suspend an investigation into a fraud case without even seeking cooperation from Telegram. The 'L sexual exploitation case' using Telegram has also failed to capture the main perpetrator. Recently, only two individuals who distributed victims' personal information and videos were arrested.

A police officer working in an investigation department at a frontline station said, "I have sent emails to Telegram but do not recall ever receiving a reply," adding, "I think cooperation should be sought at a state-to-state level."

Despite the Cyber Investigation Bureau's establishment of a Global IT Company Cooperation Task Force in 2020, there are still no effective investigative techniques. Criminals continue their activities by switching to Telegram, but the police only repeat that investigations are difficult. A police official stated, "Telegram does not cooperate well even when strongly requested," but added, "We are conducting investigations well using various methods."

Experts say the focus should be on enhancing the professionalism and efficiency of cybercrime investigations.

Seung Jae-hyun, a research fellow at the Korea Institute of Criminal Justice Policy, emphasized, "Joining the Budapest Convention is necessary to gain a voice in this area, so rapid accession is needed," and added, "Continuous raising of issues related to the efficiency of cybercrime investigations and setting tasks to address them are required." Lee Woong-hyuk, a professor in the Department of Police Science at Konkuk University, said, "Instead of relying on Telegram, undercover investigations through new social networking services (SNS) like Instagram should be strengthened," and "At the same time, efforts to identify the actual location of Telegram's headquarters should continue steadily."

Meanwhile, Representative Jeong said, "Since crimes occurring on Telegram are difficult to resolve domestically alone, a collaborative system with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be established to consider international joint response measures."