Telegram Clarifies Privacy Policy Amid User Concerns

Telegram has once again emphasized that its practice of disclosing user information to authorities remain largely unchanged, adding that strict conditions have been in place since 2018.

In his Telegram channel, co-founder Pavel Durov explained that while Telegram’s privacy policy allows it to share IP addresses and phone numbers of criminals with authorities in most countries, the request still needs to meet specific legal requirements. Durov noted that these requests have always been processed through proper communication channels and that the platform ensures the requests are legitimate before disclosing any information.

“We’ve always strived to comply with relevant local laws — as long as they didn’t go against our values of freedom and privacy,” he said.

He noted that one way Telegram maintains transparency about its cooperation with law enforcement is through its transparency bot. This tool publicly displays the number of legal requests processed by the platform. It also gives users insight into how Telegram handles government requests for data.

For example, in Brazil, Telegram disclosed information in response to 75 legal requests in the first quarter of 2024. This was followed by 63 in the second quarter and 65 in the third quarter. In India, arguably Telegram’s largest market, the company processed 2,461 legal requests in the first quarter, 2,151 in the second quarter, and 2,380 in the third quarter.

In Europe, Telegram has seen an increase in valid legal requests in the third quarter of 2024. This uptick is attributed to the fact that more authorities across the European Union have begun using the appropriate communication lines required under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).

Telegram Issues Privacy Policy Update and Temporary Wallet Suspension

Telegram recently made a subtle yet significant update to its privacy policy following a tense encounter between Durov and French authorities. The change was believed to be tied to his recent four-day police interrogation in Paris, where he was questioned about the platform’s alleged involvement in illegal activities.

Durov addressed the situation in a statement on X, where he expressed his commitment to protecting Telegram’s 950 million users from privacy violations.

I'm still trying to understand what happened in France. But we hear the concerns. I made it my personal goal to prevent abusers of Telegram's platform from interfering with the future of our 950+ million users.

My full post below. https://t.co/cDvRSodjst
— Pavel Durov (@durov) September 5, 2024

Recently, Telegram temporarily suspended its in-app wallet function for users in the United Kingdom. The suspension, as reported by analytics firm Wu Blockchain, is reportedly in response to regulatory requirements set by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In the period the in-app wallet feature was paused, Telegram allowed its users to transfer their funds to external wallets free of charge.

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