Telegram is potentially banned in India after a hacker used chatbots to leak sensitive customer data from Star Health, the country’s largest health insurer.
Telegram, a social networking application, is at risk of being banned in India due to its recent involvement in a significant data breach.
The data of clients was exposed on the app through chatbots, resulting in the compromise of India’s largest health insurer, Star Health and Allied Insurance.
This data breach has prompted heightened scrutiny of one of the most renowned social networking services as a result of the recent legal dispute between its CEO, Pavel Durov, and the French government.
Telegram at Risk of Being Banned in India
A cyber attack has affected Star Health, a company with a market capitalization exceeding $4 billion, according to a recent report by Reuters. Customers’ data has been plundered and is now accessible to the general public through chatbots on Telegram (TG).
The chatbots even provided samples, and millions of individuals’ data was made available for purchase. This data, which encompassed names, phone numbers, addresses, tax details, copies of ID cards, test results, and medical diagnoses, prompted significant concern on a national scale.
In the interim, the health insurer disclosed that it had informed the local authorities of the illicit data breach. The TG chatbots utilized in the data breach assert that they are manufactured by ‘xenZen.’
The bot warned, “If this bot is removed, be on the lookout; another one will be available within a few hours.” This further intensifies apprehensions regarding Telegram’s unparalleled efficiency and utilization in illicit activities, prompting authorities to implement stringent measures.
It is worth noting that the data breach is not the first to have prompted legal scrutiny of the app in India. The Indian government initiated an investigation into the use of TG in extortion and wagering the previous month, as reported by national media.
The Indian government may also decide to prohibit the application, contingent upon the investigation results. The Star Health data breach has further justified this chronicle.
Did Pavel Durov’s Arrest Catalyze the App’s Downfall?
In the interim, Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, was apprehended in France, which prompted the company to undergo extensive legal scrutiny.
Detention was also a component of the involvement of social networking apps in illicit activities. Nevertheless, Durov was released, even though he is presently under judicial supervision.
Nevertheless, the arrest was the catalyst for a global domino effect for the application. Despite the potential for a ban in numerous regions, many nations, such as India, France, and S. Korea, are continuing to restrict their control over TG due to its use in illicit activities.
However, it is also important to note that TG revised its policies in response to Durov’s indictment, underscoring the company’s commitment to international standards.
The recent legal backlash of the firm was evident in the policy update, which focused on unlawful content. The app’s future remains uncertain, and users on the platform continue to anticipate additional legal discoveries.
