MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Telegram as a tool used by the Russian authorities and the Commission’s slow and inadequate response – E-001504/2025

Question for written answer  E-001504/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)

The Russian Telegram platform is widely used by the Russian authorities and organised crime groups. The Kremlin treats it as a safe and effective tool not only for spreading propaganda and disinformation, but also for carrying out specific acts of sabotage on EU territory. One example is a group recruited and instructed via Telegram to conduct a campaign against Poland’s Law and Justice Government, President Andrzej Duda, Ukraine and NATO[1].

Authorities in the Netherlands and Lithuania have warned that Telegram is being used as a ‘notice board’ for drug trafficking, as well as other serious crimes, such as paedophilia and human trafficking.

During a meeting of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) on 27 March 2025, representatives of the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority pointed out that cooperation with Telegram in the prosecution of the perpetrators of these crimes and the removal of illegal content is very limited.

Despite the seriousness of the threats that it poses, Telegram, after opening an office in Brussels, enjoys full freedom of activity in the territory of the EU. At the same time, by understating the number of users, it is able to evade obligations regarding the transparency of algorithms imposed on VLOPs. Experts and regulators indicate that the actual number of users exceeds the threshold of 45 million.

• 1.Given the examples presented of the use of Telegram by the Russian authorities and criminal groups, is the Commission cooperating with Member States, Europol and Eurojust to thoroughly assess and counter this threat?
• 2.Is the Commission working with the Belgian regulatory authority and other national authorities to urgently conduct a thorough assessment to determine whether Telegram should be classified as a VLOP?

Submitted: 11.4.2025

• [1] https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/poland-investigating-russian-espionage-security-agency-says/