Telegram Provides User Data to Various Governments, CEO Durov Confirms
Pavel Durov disclosed that since 2018, Telegram has shared phone numbers and IP addresses of criminals with authorities in various countries. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The platform has been cooperating with authorities in criminal cases since 2018, its co-founder and chief has revealed.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov disclosed on Wednesday that the messaging service has been adhering to privacy policies in various countries, providing information about criminals to authorities for the past six years.
The Russian-born tech entrepreneur has been prohibited from leaving France following his arrest in Paris in late August, where he faces multiple charges, including operating a platform linked to organized crime and failing to cooperate with French authorities.
Last month, Durov, also a co-founder of Telegram, announced revisions to the platform’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. He emphasized that the changes clarify that “IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate the messenger’s rules can be disclosed to relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests.”
In a subsequent post on his Du Rove’s Channel, Durov asserted that the updated policy does not represent a “major shift” in Telegram's operations, as the platform has been sharing information with relevant authorities regarding criminals utilizing its service.
“Since 2018, Telegram has been able to disclose IP addresses/phone numbers of criminals to authorities, according to our Privacy Policy in most countries,” Durov stated, explaining that the platform verifies any “properly formed legal request” received through appropriate communication channels before disclosing the information.
Durov mentioned that in Brazil, for instance, Telegram has provided data for more than 200 legal requests since the beginning of the year, and nearly 7,000 requests in India within the same timeframe.
He also pointed out a recent increase in the number of “valid legal requests” from European authorities, attributing it to more EU officials using the correct channels for such inquiries.
Durov clarified that the updated privacy policy aims to streamline and unify the document, emphasizing that Telegram’s fundamental principles remain unchanged.
“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 remarked, asserting that Telegram was designed to “protect activists and ordinary people from corrupt governments and corporations” and that the platform does not permit criminals to exploit it or escape justice.
Durov was detained upon his arrival at a Paris airport in late August and was later released on bail. He faces 12 charges, including complicity in distributing child pornography, drug trafficking, and money laundering. These charges arise from claims that Telegram’s moderation policies permit widespread abuse of the platform.
The CEO has firmly denied the allegations, emphasizing that Telegram has consistently sought to collaborate with state regulators to find “the right balance between privacy and security.” He also highlighted that the platform removes “millions of harmful posts and channels every day” and issues “daily transparency reports” regarding actions taken against illegal content distribution.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov disclosed on Wednesday that the messaging service has been adhering to privacy policies in various countries, providing information about criminals to authorities for the past six years.
The Russian-born tech entrepreneur has been prohibited from leaving France following his arrest in Paris in late August, where he faces multiple charges, including operating a platform linked to organized crime and failing to cooperate with French authorities.
Last month, Durov, also a co-founder of Telegram, announced revisions to the platform’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. He emphasized that the changes clarify that “IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate the messenger’s rules can be disclosed to relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests.”
In a subsequent post on his Du Rove’s Channel, Durov asserted that the updated policy does not represent a “major shift” in Telegram's operations, as the platform has been sharing information with relevant authorities regarding criminals utilizing its service.
“Since 2018, Telegram has been able to disclose IP addresses/phone numbers of criminals to authorities, according to our Privacy Policy in most countries,” Durov stated, explaining that the platform verifies any “properly formed legal request” received through appropriate communication channels before disclosing the information.
Durov mentioned that in Brazil, for instance, Telegram has provided data for more than 200 legal requests since the beginning of the year, and nearly 7,000 requests in India within the same timeframe.
He also pointed out a recent increase in the number of “valid legal requests” from European authorities, attributing it to more EU officials using the correct channels for such inquiries.
Durov clarified that the updated privacy policy aims to streamline and unify the document, emphasizing that Telegram’s fundamental principles remain unchanged.
“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 remarked, asserting that Telegram was designed to “protect activists and ordinary people from corrupt governments and corporations” and that the platform does not permit criminals to exploit it or escape justice.
Durov was detained upon his arrival at a Paris airport in late August and was later released on bail. He faces 12 charges, including complicity in distributing child pornography, drug trafficking, and money laundering. These charges arise from claims that Telegram’s moderation policies permit widespread abuse of the platform.
The CEO has firmly denied the allegations, emphasizing that Telegram has consistently sought to collaborate with state regulators to find “the right balance between privacy and security.” He also highlighted that the platform removes “millions of harmful posts and channels every day” and issues “daily transparency reports” regarding actions taken against illegal content distribution.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
