Telegram Will Share User Data with Authorities For Criminal Investigations

Telegram, the popular messaging app, made major changes to its privacy policy.

On Sept. 23, Telegram’s chief executive officer, Pavel Durov, announced that the platform will comply with legal requests for user data in cases involving criminal activity by sharing a user’s IP address and phone number.

The change only applies when a valid court order confirms that a user is a suspect in a criminal investigation that violates Telegram's terms of service.

“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,” Telegram’s new policy states.

The update marks a departure from Telegram’s previous stance on data sharing, which was previously limited to cases involving terrorism.

Telegram said that any data sharing with authorities will be documented in a quarterly report and published on a dedicated Telegram channel.

Durov’s arrest

This policy change comes on the heels of Durov's recent legal troubles in France.

On Aug. 24, Durov was arrested as part of an investigation into allegations that he and Telegram were complicit in facilitating illegal activities, including drug trafficking, fraud, and the distribution of illicit content. Although Durov was released on a 5 million EUR bail on Aug. 28, he is still under investigation in France.

The new policy sparked concern among Telegram’s crypto user base, many of whom flocked to the platform for its strong stance on privacy.

“Many of us in the crypto space rely on Telegram for its privacy and encryption, especially when discussing sensitive trading strategies," Abhay Ja, a Telegram user and crypto trader, told The Defiant. “The idea that authorities can now access users' data, even under legal pretext, makes me worried.”

“No more free speech for Telegram users,” tweeted Vishal Sahu, a crypto influencer. “Are Telegram users' details still safe?”

Past regulatory issues

Telegram has experienced backlash from several regulators over the years, with governments seeking to restrict its use due to privacy and security concerns.

In 2015, China blocked Telegram, citing its role in facilitating communication between human rights lawyers and activists. Iran followed suit in 2018, banning the app over its use in organizing protests and spreading anti-government messages. Russia also banned Telegram from 2018 to 2020 after the platform refused to provide encryption keys to its security services — although the ban was lifted when Telegram agreed to assist in counter-terrorism efforts.

In 2023, Brazil temporarily banned the app for non-compliance with investigations into neo-Nazi activities. That same year, Spain blocked Telegram for copyright violations, only to later reverse the decision after backlash.

On Sept. 20, 2024, Ukraine’s National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity (NCCC) also banned the app on government devices, citing national security concerns.