Telegram Announced it Will Share User Data with Authorities

Telegram, the app renowned for prioritizing user privacy, is set to start disclosing users' IP addresses and phone numbers to law enforcement agencies.

CEO Pavel Durov has confirmed this significant shift in the platform’s terms of service, which has faced criticism for being slow in supplying user data during criminal investigations.

Alongside this policy update, Telegram plans to implement new moderation tools that leverage both artificial intelligence (AI) and human oversight to identify and eliminate inappropriate content.

Durov urged users to report any illegal or harmful material to facilitate prompt responses.

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Despite these changes, Telegram users retain various privacy features, including end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and the option to use the app without a SIM card.

The company also asserts that, so far, no user messages have been shared with external parties, including government entities.

The effects of this new policy on Telegram’s user community, especially among those engaging in illegal activities, remain uncertain.

Kosta Gushterov