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Telegram Algorithm Pushes Extremist Groups Recommendations, SPLC Report 

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social media platforms faced heightened scrutiny, with Telegram now under fire for promoting extremist content through its “similar channels”

Throughout 2024, social media platforms faced heightened scrutiny, with Telegram now under fire for promoting extremist content through its “similar channels” due to its Telegram algorithm, according to a BBC News report. 

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) exposed the feature of “similar channels” introduced last year to Telegram search algorithm that recommends extremist channels for all type of users, even those browsing neutral content like celebrities or technology. 

Back in late August, Russian CEO Pavel Durov, was under formal investigation in France after a lawsuit accusing him for not regulating Telegram algorithm and stopping criminal content from spreading over the platform. The Telegram CEO was taken into custody in Paris, after his private jet landed at Le Bourget Airport.  

According to Telegram, ” users are only presented with content they have chosen to engage with”, and the platform removes harmful posts daily. 

Following a SPLC researchers’ report on 28,000 of Telegram channel recommendations, it found that users looking for everyday content were often recommended extreme content, while those engaging with extremist topics, like anti-government conspiracies, were directed toward other radical ideologies, such as white nationalism. 

Researcher Megan Squire proved how Telegram encryption algorithm, by searching for “Donald Trump” on a new account, which promptly recommended channels promoting the Q-Anon conspiracy. 

A similar search for “UK riots” showed a meme about Adolf Hitler, followed by violent far-right Telegram group recommendation channels. 

By doing so, the Telegram algorithm behavior is directing users toward extremist content based on their search engines, and this raises serious questions about Telegram’s safety.  

Telegram’s Role in Spreading Extremist Content 

During the aftermath of the Southport knife attack in August, which sparked riots, Telegram users shared calls for protests and spread false claims about the event.  

Megan Squire shared that Telegram group recommendation made the platform a “digital threat”, due to the overshared criminal and extremist content.  

“On a scale of one to 10, Telegram I would say is an 11. It’s dishing out enormous amounts of criminal content, extremist content. It is extremely dangerous in my opinion,” she said. 

Moreover, Elies Campo, a former worker at Telegram for six years, recalled a tense showdown with Pavel Durov about extreme content in 2011.  

“His stance was it’s not up to a platform like us to decide who should be speaking out. It was clear that he didn’t want to dedicate more resources to it,” Mr Campo said about Durov’s comment. 

Professor David Maimon, of Georgia State University, has studied illegal content on Telegram for years and estimates tens of thousands of recommended Telegram channels offering everything from scamming tools to firearms. 

“Telegram is definitely one of the most important platforms criminals are using now for criminality,” he said. 

Professor Maimon in a report for Panorama, showed a user published a message on the platform “an Uzi and a shotgun,” and within moments, Telegram channel recommend a seller responded to his request.  

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Final thoughts 

Despite the accusations Telegram still says it takes Telegram algorithm and content seriously as social media platforms face a lot of scrutiny lately by both the users, governments, and judiciaries.  

In this case, the question is how Durov’s Telegram, Musk’s X, and Zuckerberg’s Facebook and Instagram, are drawing the lines of what users’ experience should be like, and whether they are really committed to regulating harmful content on their platforms.  

Without proper actions, Telegram search algorithm fiasco could spill over into other platforms, if it hasn’t already. Will they still recommend inappropriate content, increasing the risk on users? 

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