Telegram to Disclose User IP Addresses to Authorities Upon Request
Tanzeel Akhtar has been covering the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector since 2015. She has written for the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CoinDesk and Bitcoin Magazine.
Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has made a change to the messaging app’s security and privacy policies which involves handing over users’ IP addresses and numbers to authorities upon request.
In an update to its terms of service, Telegram said it will now hand over information to authorities who present valid legal requests, such as search warrants.
This policy shift marks a major development for the platform, which has built its reputation on robust privacy features.
Telegram’s updated terms of service now include a new section (8.3) under “Law Enforcement Authorities.” – this 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. If any data is shared, we will include such occurrences in a quarterly transparency report published at: https://t.me/transparency.
Telegram previously positioned itself as a strong advocate for user privacy and security. The platform, which has over 700 million active users, has often been viewed as a haven for those seeking encrypted communications, free from government surveillance.
The new policy, however, suggests that Telegram is now willing to cooperate with law enforcement under certain conditions.
Durov was arrested at an airport on the outskirts of Paris, France, on Aug. 24. The Russian-born billionaire was charged with many crimes, including complicity in
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