Platforms with over 45 million users must follow new Brussels regulations. In February, Telegram reported 41 million EU users, raising concerns that it may have underestimated its EU presence.
This month, Telegram was required by the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) to provide updated user data but only stated it had "significantly less than 45 million monthly active users in the EU," missing the deadline. This could put Telegram in violation of the DSA, the Financial Times reports.
The EU Home Office is investigating Telegram’s user numbers. Thomas Rainier, spokesman for the Digital Affairs Commission, stated that if the data is found inaccurate, the platform could be classified as very large based on the investigation's findings.
The DSA, which took effect a year ago, mandates that major platforms like Instagram, Google, and TikTok enhance compliance, including banning ads targeting users based on sensitive attributes and disclosing efforts to combat misinformation.
This probe into Telegram coincides with the arrest of its founder, Pavel Durov, in France.