In a significant policy reversal, the popular messaging app Telegram has announced it will begin disclosing users' IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities in response to valid legal requests. This move marks a shift from the company’s previous stance on privacy as it seeks to crack down on criminal activity on its platform.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov stated, "We've made it clear that the IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate our rules can be disclosed to relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests." The platform now explicitly outlines that if Telegram receives a court order confirming a user is involved in criminal activities violating its Terms of Service, the company may share the user’s data after conducting a legal analysis.
Telegram has also pledged to disclose data-sharing incidents in periodic transparency reports, and noted it may collect metadata such as IP addresses, device details, and username change history to help tackle spam, abuse, and other violations.
This new policy is a departure from Telegram’s earlier approach, where user information sharing was limited to cases involving terror suspects. The platform’s earlier stance emphasized its commitment to privacy, which had made it a haven for criminal activities such as cybercrime, drug trafficking, child pornography, and money laundering.
In addition to the privacy policy update, Telegram has improved its search feature to remove problematic content and introduced a reporting tool through the @SearchReport bot. This allows users to flag illegal content for review and removal by human moderators.
The shift in Telegram’s policy comes in the wake of CEO Durov’s arrest in France on allegations that the company ignored widespread criminal activity on the platform. Although Durov was released on bail, he is required to remain in France pending further investigation.
The policy change also follows Ukraine's decision to ban the use of Telegram among government officials, military personnel, and critical infrastructure workers, citing national security concerns.
Telegram’s new stance reflects growing pressure on tech companies to balance privacy with the need to combat criminal activity on their platforms, marking a significant shift for the company long known for its refusal to police content.
