Telegram reverses policy on sharing user data with authorities

Crackdown on illegal activity follows CEO arrest

The popular and controversial messaging platform has announced that it will give users' IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities in response to valid legal requests in a bid to reduce criminal activity on the platform

CEO Pavel Durv said in a post yesterday:

"We've made it clear that the IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate our rules can be disclosed to relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests."

The Telegram privacy policy now states:

"If Telegram receives a valid order from the relevant judicial authorities that confirms you're a suspect in a case involving criminal activities that violate the Telegram Terms of Service, we will perform a legal analysis of the request and may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities."

Such data disclosures, the policy states will be included in its periodic transparency reports and users are warned that the platform may collect metadata such as IP address, devices and Telegram apps used, and the history of username changes to tackle policy violations.

The company would previously only disclose ip address and phone details if given a court order confirming that a person was a terror suspect. The scope has widened considerably,

There is also new functionality for users to report illegal search terms and material.

This change has likely been brought about by Telegram’s growing reputation as a safe space for illegal activity such as the trading of images of child abuse and publishing of terror-related content. Lots of online activity orchestrating the summer riots in the UK took place on the platform.

Durov said in his post that the new policy “should discourage criminals.”

“While 99.999% of Telegram users have nothing to do with crime, the 0.001% involved in illicit activities create a bad image for the entire platform, putting the interests of our almost billion users at risk,” he continued.

The action is also likely to have been prompted by the arrest and detention in France of Durov last month. He was charged with enabling criminal activity on the platform, including complicity in spreading images of child abuse and drug trafficking. He was also charged with failing to comply with law enforcement.

Durov denies all charges and argues that he should not be held responsible for crimes orchestrated and committed on the platform he controls.