In a significant shift, Telegram has announced that it will provide users' IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities in response to valid legal requests. This policy update aims to curb criminal activities on the platform.
“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,” said Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in a recent post.
To clarify its stance, Telegram's updated policy states:
“If Telegram receives a valid order from the relevant judicial authorities confirming that you are a suspect in a case involving criminal activities that violate the Telegram Terms of Service, we will conduct a legal analysis of the request and may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities.”
This data disclosure will be reflected in Telegram’s periodic transparency reports. The platform also mentioned that it may collect metadata such as IP addresses, devices, and Telegram apps used, as well as the history of username changes to address spam, abuse, and other violations.
Previously, Telegram’s policy limited information sharing to cases involving terror suspects: “If Telegram receives a court order that confirms you’re a terror suspect, we may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities.”
Alongside these changes, Telegram has improved its search feature to filter out problematic content. Users can now report illegal search terms and material using the @SearchReport bot, which will be reviewed and removed by a human moderation team.
This policy shift marks a major reversal for Telegram, a platform that has long resisted policing user activities, making it a refuge for cybercrime, drug trafficking, child pornography, and money laundering.
The changes follow the recent arrest of Pavel Durov in France, where he faced allegations that the company ignored various crimes flourishing on the platform. He was released on bail but must remain in the country pending further investigation.
Just last week, the Ukrainian government banned the use of Telegram for government officials, military personnel, and other defense and critical infrastructure workers due to national security concerns.
