The EU initiates accuracy review on Telegram, questioning the user number data it provides

The European Union is scrutinizing the accuracy of user data provided by social media platform Telegram to determine whether strict rules should be imposed on its operations within the EU. In February, Telegram reported having 41 million monthly active users in Europe, slightly below the threshold of 45 million set for "Very Large Online Platforms (VLOP)" under the EU's Digital Services Act. The European Commission stated: "If we have doubts, as is currently the case...we can initiate an investigation to see what methods they used." The Commission added that if it believes the data is inaccurate and Telegram has indeed reached the user threshold, then it has unilateral authority to designate it as a "Very Large Online Platform". (Financial Times UK)