Extremist Groups Shift from Telegram to a Fresh Platform: A Disruptive Move

Telegram is implementing new rules that may make it more difficult for certain groups to operate on the messaging platform. This includes extremist groups that have been using Telegram as a means of disseminating their information, thanks in part to the platform’s “anonymous” format. However, with the changes in terms, these groups now seem to be seeking new ways to continue their activities on more secure platforms. One such platform that has gained attention for this purpose has now been revealed.

According to a study conducted by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, various neo-Nazi and terrorist organizations are now beginning to use the SimpleX Chat application to propagate their messages and continue their communications. SimpleX Chat is a decentralized messaging application that stands out for its fully encrypted nature, ensuring user identity protection.

Since Telegram started cooperating with authorities and making changes to its terms, many groups of this nature have started looking for alternative platforms, and SimpleX Chat has been one of the most adopted options. Although SimpleX Chat has been around since 2021, it has remained relatively under the radar in terms of popularity. However, the recent changes in Telegram are now causing more groups to adopt it as one of the alternatives for secure communications.

Evgeny Poberezkin, one of the creators and project leaders, explains that SimpleX Chat is a decentralized platform, meaning there is no way for the entity to know what content is being shared within the network. It uses third-party servers to facilitate communication between different users, so many of the communications are restricted to the systems used by users within that network.

While servers in this network can block other platforms within it if they wish, it is not entirely possible to “shut down” a system that utilizes the network.