By Anthony Marcus, correspondent for Eurasia Business News, on September 25, 2024. Article n°1240.
Telegram has announced on September 24 a significant policy change, allowing the platform to disclose users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to law enforcement agencies in response to valid legal requests. This decision marks a notable shift for the messaging app, which has historically resisted cooperating with authorities regarding user data.
Background of the Change
The new policy follows the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France last month on charges related to his alleged failure to manage illegal content on the platform. Durov was detained for allegedly facilitating criminal activities, including drug trafficking. He was released on bail but remains under judicial scrutiny in France during an ongoing investigation. He is forbidden to leave the territory of France. Pavel Durov left the building of the Paris judicial court in the evening of August 28.
Mr. Durov said that the French police in Paris interrogated him for four days. He called the claims from the French authorities surprising, explaining that Telegram has a representative in the European Union who responds to requests, and the French authorities had many ways to contact Pavel Durov personally. He also claims to have helped set up a “hotline” to fight terrorism in France.
In a message to his followers, Pavel Durov stated that while 99.999% of Telegram users are not involved in criminal activities, the actions of a small fraction tarnish the platform’s reputation. He emphasized that the updated terms of service are intended to “deter criminals” from exploiting Telegram for illegal purposes.
Pavel Durov’s net worth is currently estimated at $15.5 billion as of August 2024. This makes him the 150th wealthiest person in the world.
Details of the New Policy
Under the revised policy, Telegram will conduct a legal analysis of requests from authorities and may disclose user data if it confirms that the individual is a suspect in criminal activities violating Telegram’s terms of service.
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This includes sharing information with judicial authorities when warranted by valid legal orders. Previously, Telegram only disclosed user data in cases involving terrorism suspects.
Durov also mentioned that a dedicated team of moderators is now in place, utilizing artificial intelligence to identify and remove problematic content from searches on the platform. These changes aim to enhance user safety and address concerns about illegal activities being facilitated through Telegram’s features.
Implications for User Privacy
This policy shift raises concerns about user privacy and the potential for government overreach, particularly in regions where oppressive regimes may misuse such data. Critics argue that this move could compromise Telegram’s image as a secure platform for free speech and dissent, especially in countries where users rely on it for political organization and communication.
As Telegram adapts its policies in response to legal pressures, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect its user base and its role as a communication tool amid increasing scrutiny from governments worldwide.
“The director of Telegram was detained as part of an ongoing judicial investigation,” French President Emmanuel Macron said, apparently meaning that this case is not a personal case agaisnt Mr. Pavel Durov, but a large investigation of various crimes committed by users of the Telegram messenger.
Despite the French president’s statements, the arrest of Pavel Durov by French police on August 25, as he got off his private jet at Le Bourget airport, is damaging France’s reputation for freedom of expression on the Internet. Many now see the homeland of Voltaire and the Enlightenment as a jurisdiction that preemptively censors social media and the Internet. Is the next step the arrest of Elon Musk when he sets foot in Europe, for alleged offenses committed on the social network X?
Telegram’s revenue for 2023 was $342 million, the Financial Times reports, citing the company’s previously unpublished financial statements. Operating expenses were $108 million, and the total loss was about $173 million after taxes.
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© Copyright 2024 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1240.
Eurasia Business News 