Telegram Commits to Share User Information With Authorities for Criminal Investigations
Telegram, the widely-used messaging platform, made a significant change in its policy by stating that it will provide authorities with IP addresses and phone numbers of users in response to legitimate legal requests to combat unlawful activities on its service.
In a post, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced the decision, saying, “We have emphasized that the IP addresses and phone numbers of users who breach our guidelines can be revealed to relevant authorities upon receiving valid legal requests.”
The company now clearly mentions –
“If Telegram receives a legitimate order from the relevant judicial authorities confirming your involvement in criminal activities that contravene the Telegram Terms of Service, a legal evaluation of the request will be conducted, and your IP address and phone number may be shared with the appropriate authorities.”
These data disclosures will feature in its regular transparency reports. Additionally, the platform may gather metadata such as IP addresses, devices and apps used for Telegram, and history of username changes to address spam, misuse, and other infringements.
It is noteworthy that the previous policy specifically targeted terrorism suspects: “When Telegram receives a court order confirming your status as a terrorism suspect, we may reveal your IP address and phone number to authorities.”
The revision to Telegram’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy represents a notable reversal for the company, which had resisted supervising the platform for many years, thereby turning it into a prime hub for cybercrimes and unlawful activities like drug trafficking, child exploitation, and illicit financial transactions.
These changes were influenced by the arrest of Durov in France under allegations of Telegram’s negligence towards various unlawful activities flourishing unchecked on the platform. Although he was released on bail, he has been instructed to remain in the country during the ongoing investigation.
Recently, the Ukrainian government announced the prohibition of Telegram usage by government personnel, military members, and other defense and critical infrastructure employees due to national security concerns.
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