Telegram Launches Major Blocking Initiative, Removing Over 500,000 Groups and Channels

The team behind the messaging platform Telegram has announced a significant blocking initiative, removing over 500,000 groups and channels in just one day, marking one of the largest campaigns in its history.

As reported on the app's official website, the total number of deletions since early November has reached approximately 2,810,095 groups and channels. On Thursday, November 13, alone, 519,645 groups and channels were blocked, the highest daily total since February, when 490,433 were removed.

Data indicates that deletions since the start of 2025 have surpassed 34.9 million channels and groups, with 207,772 identified as related to terrorist activities.

Telegram stated that its monitoring system, which has been in place since 2015, utilizes a combination of user reports and machine learning technologies. In early 2024, the system was enhanced with advanced artificial intelligence tools to improve the detection of accounts violating its policies.

Founded by Pavel Durov in 2013, Telegram is recognized as a leading communication app, offering services such as text messaging, voice calls, and media sharing. The platform currently boasts an active user base of over one billion worldwide.