Telegram Pledges to Share Data with Law Enforcement After CEO’s Arrest

Following his recent arrest in France on charges related to criminal activities allegedly facilitated through his platform, Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, has been released on bail for $5.56 million. The investigation, which stirred debates about online free speech versus criminal use, centers on accusations of the platform being used for illicit activities like gang transactions and trafficking, and Telegram’s purported failure to provide necessary data to authorities.

In response to these events, Telegram announced updates aimed at curtailing the misuse of its service. Durov, defending the integrity of his platform, stated that Telegram had updated its terms of service and privacy policy. These updates include provisions to surrender IP addresses and phone numbers of users who breach platform rules upon receipt of valid legal requests, details of which will be included in the company’s quarterly transparency reports.

Durov highlighted the misuse of Telegram’s search function, which has been exploited for illegal activities due to its ability to locate public channels and bots. He noted that efforts involving a combination of moderation and artificial intelligence have been ramped up to remove such content, and he encouraged users to report any suspicious activities.

Despite these measures, the private, end-to-end encrypted areas of Telegram, which the company claims it cannot monitor or decrypt, may still pose challenges in completely eradicating illicit activities. It remains to be seen how these policy changes will affect the ongoing French investigation and Telegram’s broader struggle with unlawful use while maintaining privacy commitments.