Telegram to Share User Data with Authorities in Policy Shift Amid Criminal Allegations Against CEO

Messaging platform Telegram has announced that it will provide users' IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities who have valid search warrants or other legal requests. The change, which alters Telegram’s terms of service and privacy policy, was confirmed by CEO Pavel Durov in a post on Monday. Durov explained the move by saying it "should discourage criminals" from using the platform.

“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,” Durov continued. This marks a sharp policy shift for the platform, which has long marketed itself as a privacy-focused alternative to other messaging apps.

The announcement follows Durov's arrest last month at an airport just north of Paris. French authorities detained the Russian-born CEO, accusing him of enabling criminal activity on the platform, including the distribution of child abuse images and drug trafficking. Prosecutors charged Durov with complicity in these activities, as well as failing to comply with law enforcement requests.

Durov, 39, has denied all charges and lashed out at French authorities following his arrest, calling it both "surprising" and "misguided" to hold him responsible for crimes committed by third parties on the platform.

Criticism Over Telegram’s Moderation and Role in Extremism

Critics have long argued that Telegram’s structure, particularly its feature allowing groups to host up to 200,000 members, has turned it into a breeding ground for misinformation, child pornography, and extremist content. In contrast, rival platform WhatsApp, owned by Meta, limits the size of groups to 1,000 members, which critics say makes it easier to moderate content.

Telegram faced increased scrutiny last month after it was found to be hosting far-right channels that contributed to violence in several English cities. Moreover, earlier this week, the Ukrainian government banned the app on state-issued devices, citing concerns about threats posed by Russia using the platform for espionage and information warfare.

The arrest of Durov has triggered a debate over free-speech protections on the internet. Telegram has long been regarded as a safe space for political dissidents in authoritarian countries, including Russia, Belarus, and parts of the Middle East. However, John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, notes that Telegram's policy change has sparked alarm in many such communities.

Experts Skeptical About Telegram’s New Approach

"Telegram’s marketing as a platform that would resist government demands attracted people that wanted to feel safe sharing their political views in places like Russia, Belarus, and the Middle East," said Scott-Railton. "Many are now scrutinizing Telegram's announcement with a basic question in mind: does this mean the platform will start cooperating with authorities in repressive regimes?"

Telegram has yet to clarify how it will handle requests from governments with poor human rights records. Cybersecurity experts are skeptical about the platform’s ability to manage illegal content, noting that while Telegram has removed some extremist groups in the past, its moderation system remains weaker than those of competing social media platforms.

Previously, Telegram only shared information with authorities in cases involving suspected terrorists, according to reports from 404 Media. However, Durov stated on Monday that Telegram now has “a dedicated team of moderators" using artificial intelligence to hide problematic content from search results.

Despite these changes, experts like Daphne Keller from Stanford University’s Center for Internet and Society believe Telegram’s efforts may fall short of meeting European and French legal standards. Keller argued that removing illegal content when discovered is not enough; in many countries, Telegram must also report certain types of content, such as child sexual abuse material, to authorities.

"It sounds like a commitment that is likely less than what law enforcement wants," Keller concluded, noting that law enforcement agencies may expect more detailed cooperation, including insights into who users are communicating with and the contents of their messages.