Telegram has updated its privacy policy to allow the disclosure of users' phone numbers and IP addresses if they are criminal suspects.
OG Article: here
View our Fair Use Policy: here
Watch the Commentary Here
This decision follows the arrest of Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, by French authorities last month, after accusations that the platform was enabling illegal activities.
According to the updated policy, Telegram will share such information with authorities if it receives a valid court order confirming the user is involved in activities violating Telegram's terms of service.
Previously, Telegram only disclosed such information for terrorism-related cases, but the scope has now expanded to any criminal activities, particularly in cases where Telegram’s search function is abused to sell illegal goods.
Durov explained in a post that the change aims to prevent misuse of the platform and maintain its integrity for its nearly one billion users.
In addition to this policy shift, Telegram has introduced new AI tools to help moderators identify and remove problematic content.
The platform has also disabled certain features, such as People Nearby, and made adjustments to its private chat moderation policies. These changes mark an effort by Telegram to tackle its reputation as a platform frequented by criminals, including those involved in terrorism, drug trafficking, and child exploitation.
Comments