Telegram Updates Terms of Service to Share Criminal IP Addresses and Phone Numbers with Law Enforcement

Telegram Updates Terms of Service to Share Criminal IP Addresses and Phone Numbers with Law Enforcement

Telegram Updates Terms of Service to Share Criminal IP Addresses and Phone Numbers with Law Enforcement

According to a report by CoinDesk, messaging software Telegram has recently made significant changes to its terms of service. CEO Pavel Durov stated in a post on the app on Monday that Telegram’s search functionality is more powerful than that of other messaging applications, as it allows users to find public channels and bots. However, this feature has been exploited by some individuals violating the terms of service to sell illegal goods. As a result, the app’s privacy policy now stipulates that Telegram will share users’ IP addresses and phone numbers with judicial authorities in relation to criminal investigations.

Pavel Durov wrote in the announcement: “To further prevent criminals from abusing Telegram’s search, we have updated our terms of service and privacy policy to ensure these terms remain consistent globally. We have made it clear that the IP addresses and phone numbers of individuals violating our rules can be disclosed to relevant authorities upon legitimate request.”

Additionally, Telegram is also implementing artificial intelligence and a dedicated review team to gradually filter and hide problematic content from its search results.

These changes were made following Pavel Durov’s arrest in France last month, when authorities accused his company of allowing users to misuse the app for illegal activities, including drug trafficking, distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and fraud. The 39-year-old CEO has denied all charges and is currently out on bail but has been ordered to remain in France until the investigation concludes.

Following his arrest, Pavel Durov pledged to implement changes and stated in a post on the app that “finding the right balance between privacy and security is not easy.” This change marks a significant departure from the app’s previous presumption, which stated that such information would only be shared if users were suspected of terrorism.