MOSCOW, Feb 18 — The Telegram messaging app blocked over 187,000 groups and channels on Monday, which is one of the highest numbers in recent weeks, a Sputnik/RIA Novosti analysis of messenger’s statistical data showed.
The total of blocked 187,634 groups and channels is the fourth highest figure in February, only January 22–23 and February 15 saw higher numbers.
Since February 1, Telegram has blocked a total of 2.04 million groups and channels, including 7,116 “terrorism-related.”
Since January 2026, the total number of blocked groups and channels has reached nearly 7.5 million, including 27,382 “terrorism-related” channels.
Since 2015, the moderation includes user complaints and proactive monitoring based on machine learning, supplemented in early 2024 with AI-powered moderation tools, the Telegram noted.
The Telegram messaging app was created in 2013 by Pavel Durov, the founder of the Russian social media platform VKontakte.
The number of Telegram’s monthly active users exceeds one billion.
