Phone numbers or direct links to private Telegram profiles.
Sri Lanka is currently at a critical juncture where the government must take decisive action to protect its citizens' data. The emergence of these channels should serve as a wake-up call, prompting stricter enforcement of cyber laws, better public awareness campaigns, and a coordinated effort to shut down illegal data-sharing networks on encrypted platforms like Telegram.
Telegram has grown rapidly worldwide due to its focus on privacy, cloud storage, and large group capacities. Unlike other messaging apps that limit group sizes, Telegram allows channels to have unlimited subscribers and groups to host up to 200,000 members.
Financial scams are prevalent in unmoderated adult channels. Users are frequently targeted by fraudsters demanding advance payments for services or using social engineering to extort money.
For instance, the Telegram channel has attracted over 24,000 subscribers , according to analytics data from telemetr.io. Its steady growth, averaging hundreds of new subscribers monthly, demonstrates how these underground networks are thriving. Such channels operate as hubs for sharing betting numbers, match predictions, and gambling tips—all tailored specifically for a Sri Lankan audience.
Traditional subculture theory (Hebdige, 1979) focused on class, race, and style. However, digital subcultures in the Global South operate differently. For Sri Lankan youth, caught between post-colonial traditionalism and globalized modernity, Telegram offers a "backstage" (Goffman, 1959) identity.