What happened?
According to the latest data released by Telegram, the platform provided over 2,000 user data to U.S. authorities last year.
Independent media (404 Media) pointed out that after Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France in August, Telegram began to change its policies and significantly met law enforcement agencies' requests for user data.
After the arrest, several cybercriminals indicated they would leave Telegram, with some even creating backup accounts on other messaging services like Signal.
In 2024, Telegram provided over 2,000 user data to the United States
Telegram, a messaging software with over 950 million active users, has attracted attention for being a breeding ground for many criminal activities. According to the latest data released by Telegram, the platform provided over 2,000 user data to U.S. authorities last year.
Independent media (404 Media) pointed out that after Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France in August, Telegram began to change its policies and significantly met law enforcement agencies' requests for user data.
Telegram's Transparency Reports bot reported that from January 1 to September 30, 2024, the platform only responded to 14 requests for user data from the U.S., affecting 108 users. However, looking at the entire data for 2024, Telegram responded to a total of 900 requests from the U.S., representing a surge in the number from October to December, affecting a total of 2,253 users.
(404 Media) reported that the information displayed by the bot was: 'The number of requests related to IP addresses and/or phone numbers made by the U.S. has been met: 900. Affected users: 2,253.'
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov
Telegram's new balance point
In fact, after Durov's arrest, Telegram updated its privacy policy, stating that it would provide user data, including IP addresses and phone numbers, to law enforcement agencies based on valid legal orders. Previously, its privacy policy only mentioned that data would be provided in cases involving 'terrorism' and claimed it had never occurred.
After the arrest, several cybercriminals indicated they would leave Telegram, with some even creating backup accounts on other messaging services like Signal.
Telegram is a messaging software with over 950 million monthly active users, initially pursuing the spirit of freedom and rejecting control, but it has also become a breeding ground for many illegal activities, attracting significant attention from other countries.
Durov revealed in an interview that he chose to establish Telegram's headquarters in Dubai to distance it from the control of various governments. Durov stated that his mission is to create a platform where people can freely express their opinions.
However, the actions taken in France and the adjustments in policies show that Telegram has to find a new balance between privacy protection and compliance with legal requirements, which will be a significant challenge for the platform.
Sources: 404 Media, Cointelegraph
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