Telegram, a platform originally lauded for its privacy features and resistance to censorship, has increasingly become a breeding ground for conspiracy theories — particularly within Austria’s far-right digital sphere. A recent report by Austria’s Federal Office for Sect Issues reveals how Telegram is being weaponized to generate income through misinformation and manipulation, raising concerns about democratic integrity.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Telegram played a central role in hosting dissenting voices. From anti-lockdown groups to vaccine skeptics, many users flocked to the platform seeking alternative narratives. This “stabilized counter-public,” as researchers Felix Lippe and Philipp Pflegerl describe it, has now transitioned from protest to profit. The reach these channels gained during the pandemic is being actively monetized through targeted donation campaigns and product sales.

The commercialization strategy involves promoting alternative medicine, dietary supplements, conspiracy-themed literature, and survival gear. Telegram channels use fear-based messaging to instill distrust in democratic institutions and scientific consensus, thereby deepening audience engagement — and increasing revenue opportunities.

Between early 2024 and mid-2024, over 60,000 messages were posted monthly across Austrian conspiracy channels, surpassing previous highs from the pandemic. Of these, more than 2,300 were direct monetary calls to action — from donations to product links. Alarmingly, this number even outpaced political mobilization attempts, signifying a shift in motive: money over ideology.

A key method of monetization is donation solicitation. About 31.5% of all monetary calls involve appeals for financial support, often disguised as support for the “truth movement.” Another 16.2% comes from direct commercialization of goods, including alternative treatments and coaching services with pseudo-spiritual or pseudoscientific foundations.

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The report also points out Austria’s conspiracy ecosystem is no longer a local problem. German audiences are increasingly targeted by Austrian far-right channels, turning them into digital “export hits.” This cross-border influence raises alarms about the international scope of Telegram-based radicalization and manipulation.

While critics like Austria’s Freedom Party accuse the Federal Office of censorship, researchers insist their work is politically neutral. Budget cuts, however, threaten the continuation of their monitoring project — a loss that could leave the growing Telegram conspiracy economy unchecked.

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