Telegram has announced that it will now provide IP addresses and phone numbers to relevant authorities upon request by default. Previously, the messaging app would only share such information if there were suspicions of terrorism. The platform has maintained that it only shares data when there is suspected criminal activity involved.
In addition to this policy change, Telegram has also removed many illegal channels from its search feature. These channels were often used to distribute illicit items such as drugs and weapons, making them accessible to users.
Founder Pavel Durov explained that these new measures aim to deter criminal activity on the platform, stating, “Telegram Search is designed for finding friends and discovering news, not for promoting illegal goods.”
The shift in policy follows Durov’s detention by French authorities at a Paris airport. He is facing accusations of facilitating criminal activities on the app, including spreading child abuse material, involvement in terror-related issues, and drug trafficking.
