Telegram To Establish Local Office In Kazakhstan To Enhance Compliance

According to Cointelegraph, cryptocurrency-friendly messenger Telegram is set to improve its compliance and communication with regulators in Kazakhstan by establishing a local office. The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry announced on October 14 that Telegram has agreed to appoint a local representative and open an office in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Minister Zhaslan Madiyev stated that Telegram’s physical presence in the country would be an important step to increase control over content on the messaging platform. This measure is significant given Telegram’s substantial user base in Kazakhstan. According to Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov, 12.5 million Kazakhs, more than half of the nation’s 20 million population, use Telegram each month, marking a 25% increase from 2023. The announcement coincided with Kazakhstan’s officials meeting with the United States Chamber of Commerce and representatives from major US tech companies, including Meta and Apple. During these meetings, Kazakh officials discussed issues related to data protection and combating fraud and fake accounts on social media platforms, such as Meta’s WhatsApp. In the third quarter of 2024, Meta reported blocking 1.2 billion fake accounts globally using artificial intelligence. Madiyev emphasized that the government of Kazakhstan has been closely working with international partners to ensure the safety of Kazakhstanis in the digital space. He noted that the government is actively cooperating with Telegram to promptly remove illegal content and block illicit channels. In accordance with Kazakh legislation, internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and TikTok are now required to have a representative in Kazakhstan. Telegram’s decision to open an office in Kazakhstan is part of its broader push for compliance, which comes as Durov faces scrutiny in France over the platform’s handling of illegal activities. Since French authorities indicted Durov on multiple charges in late August, Telegram has enhanced its efforts to combat illicit activity on the messenger app. In September, Durov stated that Telegram was sharing the IP addresses and phone numbers of users who violated the app’s rules by requests of related authorities. The CEO also reported that Telegram has made several updates to its search engine, removing problematic content from search results and using AI to identify illicit content. Telegram’s office in Kazakhstan is apparently one of the company’s first global offices set up to increase compliance. Cointelegraph approached Telegram for a comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.