Telegram has reportedly announced a major policy shift, agreeing to share users’ IP addresses and phone numbers with authorities who present valid search warrants or other legal requests.
According to reports by BBC on Monday, September 23, 2024, the change, revealed in an update to the platform’s terms of service and privacy policy, is aimed at deterring criminal activities, according to the app’s CEO, Pavel Durov.
In a Telegram post on the same day, Mr Durov stated that while 99.999 percent of Telegram users are law-abiding, the 0.001% involved in illegal activities tarnish the platform’s reputation and jeopardise the interests of our nearly one billion users.
This move marks a significant departure for Mr Durov, the Russian-born co-founder of Telegram, who has long championed the platform’s commitment to privacy and user anonymity.
His stance shifted following his recent arrest by French authorities at an airport in North of Paris.
Shortly after, he was charged with enabling criminal activity on the platform, including allegations of complicity in the distribution of child abuse material and drug trafficking, as well as failing to cooperate with law enforcement.
Mr Durov, who has denied all charges, criticised his arrest as “misguided” and said that holding him responsible for the actions of third parties on the platform was “surprising.”
However, critics say the platform’s new data-sharing policy is seen as an attempt to address concerns involving accusations of Telegram of fostering a breeding ground for misinformation, child exploitation, and terror-related content, in part due to its allowance of group chats with up to 200,000 members.
The policy shift signals Telegram’s intent to cooperate with global authorities in curbing illicit activities, but it has also sparked debate about the implications for user in privacy on the platform.
