Secretive messaging app used by IS takes down posts

The creators of a popular messaging app called Telegram say they are acting to stop the Islamic State (IS) group from distributing propaganda to a wide audience through the service.

As details emerged after ISIS’ coordinated, deadly attacks on Paris and Beirut last week, one name stood out in conversations about communications channels: Telegram.

Ars Technica reported that ISIS is known to use Telegram, with the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) saying in October that both ISIS and Al Qaeda had created channels on the service for secure communications.

Encrypted messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, Kik, and others have attracted unwanted attention in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks.

Telegram, founded in 2013, is a free cloud-based messaging app for Apple and Android that allows users to message each other privately or create group chats with up to 200 people at a time.

Alex Kassirer, a counter-terrorism analyst with the New York-based private intelligence firm Flashpoint, said IS had begun using Telegram channels in recent months to broadcast press releases aimed at recruiting and inspiring followers.

Even on public channels, picking and choosing who to block is a tough challenge. “We do not process any requests related to them”.

Telegram explained that the channels spanned 12 languages.

Please note that this does not apply to local restrictions on freedom of speech.

But IS supporters continue to take advantage of private members-only channels on Telegram to spread word of the new public propaganda channels.

“The problem with blocking Telegram groups, like suspending Twitter or Facebook accounts, is that it becomes a game for IS supporters to see how fast they can get up another account”, said researcher Sidney Jones, who runs think-tank in Jakarta called the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict.

Pavel Durov, 31, the frontman, and his brother Nicolay, 34, the technical talent, lost control of VKontakte to businessmen with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014, after battling the government over demands that it block Russian opposition leaders and turn over information about Ukrainian protesters.

The situation is bad enough that Telegram users received today a message straight from the source.