Telegram questioned by Ofcom after arsonist who targeted Starmer-linked properties recruited on app
Summary
A man in the UK was found guilty of setting fires to properties linked to Keir Starmer after being recruited and guided through the messaging app Telegram by someone connected to Russia. The UK regulator Ofcom is now questioning Telegram about how it prevents illegal activity on its platform.Key Facts
- Roman Lavrynovych, 22, was convicted of arson attacks on a car and properties connected to Keir Starmer.
- He was directed on Telegram by a user named El Money, who communicated in Russian and Ukrainian.
- El Money, linked to a Russian sabotage network, offered Lavrynovych £3,000 in cryptocurrency to carry out the attacks and record them.
- Police found over 320 messages between Lavrynovych and El Money dating to September 2024.
- After the attacks, El Money told Lavrynovych to leave the UK for safety.
- Telegram is owned by Pavel Durov, who moved the company to Dubai and is known for supporting personal freedom online.
- Ofcom contacted Telegram for clarification on how it detects and stops illegal messages after this incident.
- Ofcom also recently started investigating Telegram’s efforts to prevent child sexual abuse material.
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