Cryptocurrency-friendly messenger Telegram is moving to improve compliance and communication with regulators in Kazakhstan by establishing a local office.

Telegram has agreed to appoint a local representative and open an office in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry announced on Oct. 14.

According to Minister Zhaslan Madiyev, Telegram’s physical presence in the country will be an “important step to increase control over content” on the messaging platform.

The measure is important given Telegram’s significant exposure in the country. According to Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov, 12.5 million Kazakhs — more than half of the nation’s 20 million population — use Telegram each month, marking a 25% increase from 2023.

Kazakhstan meets with US gov’t, tech firms, to address fraud

The announcement came as Kazakhstan’s officials met with the United States Chamber of Commerce and representatives from major US tech companies, including Meta and Apple.

At the meetings, Kazakh officials discussed issues related to data protection and combating fraud and fake accounts on social media platforms, such as Meta’s WhatsApp. In the third quarter of 2024, Meta said it blocked 1.2 billion fake accounts globally using artificial intelligence.

Kazakhstan’s meetings with the US Chamber of Commerce and US tech firms. Source: Gov.kz

According to Madiyev, the government of Kazakhstan has been closely working with international partners to ensure the safety of Kazakhstanis in the digital space:

“We are actively cooperating with Telegram to promptly remove illegal content and block illicit channels. In accordance with our legislation, internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp and TikTok are now required to have a representative in Kazakhstan.”

Telegram increases compliance efforts amid Durov’s investigation in France

Telegram’s decision to open an office in Kazakhstan is part of its broader push for compliance, which comes as Durov faces scrutiny in France over the platform’s handling of illegal activities.

Since French authorities indicted Durov on multiple charges in late August, Telegram has enhanced its efforts to combat illicit activity on the messenger app.

Related: Telegram has been disclosing user IPs since 2018, Durov says

In September, Durov said that Telegram was sharing the IP addresses and phone numbers of users who violated the app’s rules by requests of related authorities.

The CEO also reported that Telegram has made a few updates to its search engine, removing “problematic” content from search results and using AI to identify illicit content.

Telegram’s office in Kazakhstan is apparently one of the company’s first global offices set up to increase compliance. Cointelegraph approached Telegram for a comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.