55 arrested in France as encrypted Telegram network used for child abuse is dismantled 🚨

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French authorities have arrested 55 men between May 19 and 22 in connection with a major child abuse network operating on the encrypted messaging platform Telegram. The operation was led by France’s Office for the Protection of Minors (Ofmin) following a ten-month investigation.

A year-long undercover operation 🕵️

The suspects, aged 25 to 75, come from diverse backgrounds—among them a priest, a paramedic, a music teacher, and a grandfather. All had professional or family ties to children. Some were brought before a judge immediately, while others will face further investigation.

The investigation began in early 2024 when several men were arrested for sexually abusing children and sharing recordings of their crimes on Telegram. These initial arrests led investigators to uncover a broader web of users regularly exchanging abusive content.
Ofmin launched an extensive undercover digital operation, analyzing thousands of messages over the span of nearly a year.
The arrests took place across 42 departments in France.

Charges include possession, viewing, and distribution of child sexual abuse material involving victims under the age of ten. Authorities emphasized the severity of the case, especially considering that many of the accused work or interact directly with minors.

Telegram once again in the spotlight 📱

Telegram, the encrypted messaging app, is once again under scrutiny for enabling online criminal activity. According to Quentin Bévan, the police commissioner in charge of the operation, Telegram remains a platform of choice for child abusers. While some legal cooperation has improved, the app is still seen as falling short of its obligations.

Following the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in August 2024 at Le Bourget airport, the company claims to have boosted its content moderation systems. It now says it complies with European law and has introduced new tools to combat child abuse on the platform. These include:

• fingerprint-based banning of known offenders,
• dedicated moderation teams,
• and NGO support hotlines.

Encrypted platforms face growing pressure 🔐

Efforts to combat online sexual abuse have intensified, especially since the shutdown of the Coco platform in June 2024. That closure pushed many offenders to migrate to Telegram, highlighting the urgency of law enforcement’s latest crackdown.

Ofmin says it hopes this operation will contribute to stronger monitoring of online spaces, which are increasingly exploited to commit or conceal crimes against children. Investigations are ongoing to identify further links in the network. The agency is also calling for stronger collaboration between tech platforms, law enforcement, and child protection NGOs.

🗣️ What’s your take ?
How can we balance child safety online with the right to private, encrypted communication? We’d love to hear your thoughts—join the conversation in the comments. 🙂