Telegram CEO bows to pressure, agrees to share user data with authorities

Telegram, the popular instant messaging platform, has implemented a significant policy change following the arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov, in France.

Durov was charged with complicity in the spread of child sexual abuse materials, which led to mounting legal pressure on the platform.

In a statement on Monday, Durov announced that Telegram will now provide users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities if requested, marking a shift from its earlier stance of non-cooperation.

This change is aimed at improving Telegram’s reputation, as it has been criticized for ignoring takedown requests and being unresponsive to legal inquiries about suspected criminals.

To further combat illegal content, Telegram has introduced a human moderation team and an AI-driven system to remove problematic materials.

Durov also urged users to report unsafe or unlawful content for prompt review and removal.

Despite these changes, Telegram will still offer privacy-focused features such as vanishing messages, end-to-end encryption, and the option to use the service without a SIM card.

However, concerns remain about how this new policy may affect its appeal to individuals involved in illegal activities.

IP addresses and phone numbers could still be used to track users’ online behavior outside the platform.

“To date, we have disclosed 0 bytes of user messages to third parties, including governments,” the service’s FAQ still boasts.