Telegram will now share user IP address and phone numbers
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Loading... - Paul Wanyonyi
- 02 Oct 2024
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Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, has announced that the platform will now share users' IP addresses and phone numbers in response to legal requests.
This decision follows growing legal pressure on Telegram, especially concerning the app's role in enabling criminal activities. While Telegram has long promoted itself as a privacy-focused platform, its robust search function has been misused by some users for illegal transactions, leading to increased scrutiny.
In August, Durov was briefly detained in Paris as part of an investigation into the app’s moderation policies, particularly its failure to prevent criminal activity. Although Durov denies any wrongdoing, he remains in Paris under court orders as the investigation continues.
Under the new policy, Telegram will only share metadata—such as IP addresses and phone numbers—when legally required, and insists that users' messages or conversations will remain private. Durov maintains that privacy remains a core value for the platform, though Telegram’s shift toward complying with legal requests has raised concerns among users.
Critics argue that any form of data sharing undermines Telegram’s commitment to privacy, potentially allowing authorities excessive control and risking misuse of user information.
