As Sentencings Mount, What Can Be Done About Telegram?

Telegram has come under growing pressure in the UK over illegal sexual content, leaked images, and online abuse. But is Telegram itself unsafe or illegal? In this article, the experts at Holborn Adams will investigate how the platform works, what regulators can do, and what happens when police investigate Telegram users.

Understanding Telegram's Growing Legal Problems

Telegram is one of the world's most popular messaging platforms. But it has also drawn attention from police and regulators over criminal activity.

Cases involving Telegram porn, leaked intimate images, and child sexual abuse material have raised serious concerns about online safety. 

So, what can authorities do about Telegram?

While the platform itself is legal, questions remain about whether the app does enough to stop illegal content and whether its users have broken the law.

What Is Telegram and What Is It Used For?

Telegram is a messaging app that lets people send messages, make voice and video calls, and share files.

It supports private chats, group chats, and public channels. Users have the option to connect through usernames or phone numbers.

Telegram allows people to reach a very large audience. Groups can have up to 200,000 members, while a Telegram channel can reach even more.

Beyond chat, the app offers file sharing, news updates, and other services. Users can also interact with a Telegram bot for certain tasks.

However, a rise in searches for NSFW Telegram channels, Telegram porn, and Telegram leaks shows that many people use the platform to look for explicit content. Some groups are specifically designed to share intimate images, sometimes without consent. 

Despite the prevalence of illegal activity, simply using Telegram or joining a large group does not automatically mean someone has committed a crime.

Is Telegram Encrypted and Is It Safe?

Telegram uses encryption to protect messages. However, not all chats work the same way.

Ordinary cloud chats are encrypted between your device and Telegram's servers. In these cases, the app stores your messages in the cloud. 

Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption. This means only the devices in the conversation can read the messages.

This difference matters because it means not every message sent through Telegram is fully private. This runs contrary to one of the app’s main selling points, which some think implies that messages are encrypted by default. 

Law enforcement may still find information on phones, computers, or other devices. Account records, user data, and downloaded files may also provide evidence.

So, is Telegram safe? Its safety depends on its security settings, the people you communicate with, and how you use it.

Why Is Telegram Under Scrutiny in the UK?

Telegram has faced growing pressure over illegal content shared through its groups and channels.

On 21 April 2026, the UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, opened an investigation under the Online Safety Act 2023. The investigation looked at whether the app has done enough to prevent child sexual abuse material from being shared.

Ultimately, Ofcom raised concerns based on its own findings and information from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.

Although the investigation does not mean the company has broken the law, it could lead to serious consequences if Ofcom finds that the platform has failed to protect users.

The question now is what action regulators can take if those failures are proven.

What Can Regulators Actually Do About Telegram?

Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom can investigate messaging platforms and take action when they fail to meet their legal duties. 

If Telegram is found to have broken the rules, Ofcom can order changes and issue fines. These fines can reach £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is higher.

In serious cases, Ofcom can also ask a UK court to restrict access to a platform or disrupt its business. In theory, this could prevent users from accessing it from UK IP Addresses. 

However, these powers deal with Telegram as a company. Police must investigate individual users separately to decide whether they have committed a criminal offence.

How Telegram Can Feature in Criminal Investigations

Telegram has featured in several recent UK criminal cases involving illegal sexual images and private photo leaks.

In June 2026, Alan Richens was jailed for three years after sharing hundreds of indecent images of children through Telegram. This occurred after police examined his phone and found messages and evidence of the images he had shared.

In August 2026, Lewis Davison was jailed for two years and two months after posting AI-altered sexual images of women and a girl in closed Telegram groups.

These cases show how police can use messages, downloaded files, and account activity as evidence. The latter also shows how AI-generated CSAM and Telegram can intersect. 

It is important to note that finding suspicious material in an account does not automatically prove a crime. As with the above cases, police must still establish what the person knew, what they did, and whether their actions broke the law.

How Police Assess Intent and Participation

When investigating possible crimes on Telegram, police look beyond the files in someone's account to understand how they used the platform and whether they took part in illegal activity.

They may check message histories, requests for images, repeated activity, and whether someone uploaded or shared content.

They may also examine whether someone managed a group or tried to hide their actions.

Even then, a suspicious message does not always prove criminal intent. For example, being part of a private group does not mean someone agreed with or took part in everything shared there.

The full conversation and account history are necessary to help show what really happened.

Why Early Legal Advice Matters in Telegram Investigations

When police investigate Telegram activity, it often includes a lot of digital evidence. This can not only be hard to understand, but even small details can affect the case.

A solicitor can work with digital forensic experts to find mistakes, check missing evidence, and protect your rights. However, the earlier you involve them, the better the results will be. 

Through pre-charge engagement, they can also challenge weak claims and present evidence that supports your defence before prosecutors decide whether to bring charges.

How Holborn Adams Can Help with Telegram-Related Allegations

As more Telegram users face criminal sentences, pressure is growing on the platform to stop illegal content. But while regulators can take action against Telegram itself, individual users must still be judged on their own actions.

At Holborn Adams, we believe every allegation deserves a fair investigation. As in all sexual offence cases, our solicitors can work to challenge weak evidence, protect your rights, and build a defence based on the facts.

Our pre-charge engagement track record speaks for itself, and we will work to ensure your case is properly considered before charges are brought.

If you're facing allegations involving Telegram porn, illegal images, or online sexual offences, contact Holborn Adams immediately for specialist legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Telegram and how does it work?

Telegram is a messaging app that lets users send messages, photos, videos, and files. It also supports private chats, group chats, and public channels. Most conversations are stored in Telegram's cloud, so users can access them on different devices.

2. How is Telegram commonly used?

Telegram is used for personal messages, business chats, news, and file sharing. People can also join groups and channels to communicate with a large audience. Although some users share illegal content, using Telegram for ordinary purposes is lawful.

3. How do police investigate alleged criminal activity on Telegram?

Police may check messages, downloaded files, usernames, and account activity. They may also examine group membership and device records. Investigators must then decide whether the evidence proves the elements of a criminal offence.

4. How can investigators tell whether a Telegram file was deliberately downloaded or saved automatically?

Investigators can check Telegram settings, file locations, timestamps, and device records. A digital forensic expert may help show whether a file was downloaded automatically. However, finding a file does not always prove someone deliberately saved it.

5. Does being a member of a Telegram group mean I could be charged with possessing illegal material?

Not automatically. Police must examine whether you knew about the material and had control over it. They may also look at what you downloaded, viewed, or shared. Group membership alone does not prove possession of illegal images.

6. Is Telegram really private or fully encrypted?

Telegram uses encryption, but ordinary cloud chats are not end-to-end encrypted. Only Secret Chats offer end-to-end encryption for messages. Even when you use Telegram securely, information may still be found on devices or through other records.

7. Should I speak to a solicitor if police seize my phone because of Telegram activity?

Yes. A solicitor can explain your rights, help you prepare for police questions, and review the allegations. Getting advice early may also help identify evidence that supports your account before a charging decision is made.

8. Should I get digital forensic advice if illegal material is found in my Telegram account or app cache?

Digital forensic advice may help explain how files reached your account or device. An expert can examine automatic downloads, file records, and account access. Your solicitor can advise whether an independent examination would help your defence.

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