User data may be shared with authorities

Addressing concerns about abuse of Telegram’s search feature, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced significant updates to the platform’s moderation policies in a recent post.

Durov emphasized in his Telegram post that Telegram’s search feature allows users to find public channels and bots more easily than other messaging apps, but that this feature is abused by people selling illegal goods.

Durov noted that those who violate the platform rules may be reported to the relevant authorities in line with valid legal requests.

“We have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to ensure they are consistent around the world. We have made it clear that the IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate our rules may be disclosed to the relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests.”

Durov

Telegram’s updates

Durov said Telegram has been taking steps to improve search security over the past few weeks by deploying a team of moderators that use artificial intelligence.

Durov noted that these efforts have made Telegram Search significantly safer and that problematic content has been removed. He urged users to report any remaining illegal or unsafe content.

To prevent future abuse, Telegram has updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy globally. These revisions clarify that IP addresses and phone numbers of users who violate the platform’s rules may be shared with authorities in response to valid legal requests.

This policy change represents a significant shift for the Telegram platform, which was previously known for prioritizing user privacy.

Durov’s post concluded by reaffirming Telegram’s mission, stating that Telegram Search is “for finding friends and discovering news, not for promoting illegal goods.” He added that the Telegram team “will not allow malicious actors to compromise the integrity of our platform for nearly a billion users.”

According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, after his arrest, Telegram began to fulfill the demands of law enforcement.

Le Figaro newspaper reported that Telegram responded to a request from a European Union member state to investigate a group believed to be carrying out contract killings.

Arrest of Pavel Durov

Durov’s message comes at a time when he has become the focus of legal investigations. Durov was arrested in France in August following allegations that Telegram was being used for criminal activity, including drug trafficking and cybercrime.

His arrest led Telegram to increase its cooperation with law enforcement, not only in France but also in many other countries.

Following his arrest, Durov went public with the accusations against him, defending Telegram’s moderation practices and criticizing authorities for directly targeting him. Durov expressed surprise at the legal action, stressing that Telegram has an official EU representative to handle law enforcement requests, and questioning why authorities would bypass those channels to focus on him.

Stating that the accusations were outdated, the user argued that these accusations held him responsible for the activities of users, while drawing attention to the platform’s strong content moderation and transparency efforts.

Durov’s latest actions mark a shift for Telegram, which has previously been reluctant to share user data with authorities. It remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to satisfy critics and prevent further legal challenges.