Telegram, the popular messaging application, will now furnish users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to relevant law enforcement agencies upon receiving legitimate legal requests, according to Chief Executive Officer Pavel Durov.
This update to the platform’s terms of service is intended to deter criminal activities on the platform, Durov revealed in a post on Telegram this Monday. The announcement follows Durov’s recent arrest in France, where he faces allegations linked to the dissemination of child sexual abuse material.
This change signals a significant shift in Telegram’s strategy regarding government data requests and its historically relaxed stance on content moderation. The app, which operates out of the United Arab Emirates, has often been criticized for its uncooperative response to government requests aimed at removing illicit content and sharing information about individuals involved in criminal activities.
To enhance security, Telegram is now utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) alongside a team of moderators to filter out harmful content from its search results, according to Durov.
In August, French authorities charged Durov in connection with alleged crimes facilitated through the app. The ongoing legal case implicates the billionaire CEO in failing to enable law enforcement access to critical data for monitoring suspected criminal activities.
Durov has been instructed to remain in France throughout the investigation and has denied all charges against him.
Under Durov’s leadership, Telegram has faced scrutiny from governments across the spectrum, from the European Union to authoritarian regimes in countries like Russia and Iran. The platform has served as a means for protesters to mobilize against oppressive authorities, while simultaneously becoming a space for conspiracy theorists and extremist groups.
For years, white supremacist groups in the United States have leveraged Telegram to orchestrate attacks on critical infrastructure.
The Kremlin’s attempts to block Telegram in 2018 ultimately failed, leading to the lifting of the ban two years later. Following the unblocking, Russian authorities noted that Durov had indicated a willingness to combat extremism and terrorism.
Durov’s recent arrest has prompted several policy reforms at Telegram, including a recent prohibition on new media uploads, which Durov claims is intended to prevent the activities of bots and scammers.
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