A new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has raised alarm over the social media platform Telegram, revealing that its algorithm is actively promoting extremist content.

The study, shared exclusively with BBC Panorama, highlights how the platform’s “similar channels” feature introduces users to harmful material, even when searching for innocuous topics like celebrities or technology.

The SPLC’s lead researcher Megan Squire demonstrated how a search for “Donald Trump” on a new Telegram account triggered recommendations for channels promoting the baseless Q-Anon conspiracy theory.

Another search for “UK riots” led to results that included a meme about Adolf Hitler and channels linked to violent far-right groups.

Ms Squire said the platform is more than just a hub for sharing content, describing it as a “digital threat” where users are funnelled into real-world extremist events. “On a scale of one to 10, Telegram I would say is an 11. It’s dishing out enormous amounts of criminal content, extremist content. It is extremely dangerous in my opinion,” she said.

Critics have long accused Telegram of failing to curb illegal activities.

Professor David Maimon from Georgia State University, who has studied the platform for six years, said it has become a hub for criminal activity, with tens of thousands of channels offering items ranging from scamming tools to firearms.

He showed how a seller offered to ship an Uzi submachine gun to the UK for £850 within minutes of a request.

Former Telegram insider Elies Campo told BBC Panorama that founder Pavel Durov was aware of the extremist material but resisted moderation. “His stance was it’s not up to a platform like us to decide who should be speaking out,” said Mr Campo, who worked with Telegram’s leadership for six years.

Mr Durov, the Russian billionaire behind Telegram, is currently under investigation in France over allegations of complicity in crimes including drug trafficking and the sharing of child abuse images.

He denies the accusations but remains on bail and is prohibited from leaving the country.

Telegram has defended its practices, stating that it removes millions of pieces of harmful content daily through moderation teams and AI tools.

The company insists that users only see content they have subscribed to and that the “channel suggestions” feature is topic-based and user-driven. “This is completely different from how other platforms make suggestions,” Telegram said in a statement.