It’s been less than two months since the messaging app Telegram launched a new feature called Channels that allowed anyone to broadcast messages to thousands of people in a similar fashion to Twitter. Within that short time frame, it appears that dozens of Channels were created by supporters of ISIS to spread the group’s propaganda to thousands of users.
Supporters of ISIS have used Telegram to publish official statements, claiming responsibility for the Paris attacks for instance, and to communicate with one another. Founder Pavel Durov created Telegram in 2013 so that he could communicate with friends and colleagues without interference from the Kremlin; the app prides itself on a heavily encrypted network that keeps all communication private. The company says on its FAQ page that its network is more secure than mass market messaging apps like WhatsApp and LINE.
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