The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office has joined France in a cross-border probe into the Telegram messaging service. The development points to a joint investigative team designed to share material and coordinate operations across jurisdictions.
According to reports, the two countries have formed a joint task force that can exchange findings and coordinate further actions as part of their broader crackdown on criminal activity that relies on encrypted communications.
Authorities in Belgium have tracked Telegram since 2020, noting its frequent use by organized crime, illicit finance networks, and other illicit groups. Most assessments indicate Telegram is favored by criminal actors as a channel for illicit activity.
Within the European Union, oversight of platform activities is handled by the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications. A representative later said there was no clear evidence that Telegram breached EU-wide rules governing online platforms.
Earlier this year, Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, was detained upon arrival at Le Bourget Airport in France and faced multiple charges, including operating an online platform used to facilitate illegal transactions. He remains in judicial custody with a bail set at €5 million and is barred from leaving France.
Following the arrest, reports indicated Telegram began cooperating with law enforcement authorities not only in France but also in other countries during cybercrime investigations.
Previous cooperation between Telegram and French intelligence services has provoked inquiries from other nations.