Since the arrest in August of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, a popular social network and messaging app known for its strict privacy policies has dramatically increased cooperation with US authorities. The platform provided data on more than 2,200 users in 2024, a sharp increase from previous years, according to details from Telegram’s own transparency reports bot, reported by 404 Media.
For most of 2024, Telegram data sharing with U.S. law enforcement agencies was minimal, completing just 14 requests that affected 108 users by the end of September. However, there was exponential growth in the last quarter of the year – from 108 affected users to 2,253.
Between January 1 and September 30, 2024, Telegram complied with 14 requests from the United States for “IP addresses and/or phone numbers,” affecting a total of 108 users, according to the Telegram Transparency Reports robot. But throughout 2024, it completed 900 U.S. requests, affecting a total of 2,253 users, meaning the number of completed applications skyrocketed from October to December, according to newly released data.
“United States completed requests for IP address and/or phone number: 900,” the company’s transparency reports bot reads when prompted by 404 Media.
“Affected users: 2253,” he added.
This exponential increase in the provision of data coincides with the arrest of Durov and subsequent changes in the privacy policy of Telegram.
In September, shortly after Durov’s arrest, Telegram changed its privacy guidelines, now announcing that it would transmit user data, including IP addresses and phone numbers, to law enforcement authorities upon receipt of valid legal orders. Prior to that, the company had maintained a policy of sharing data only for terrorism-related investigations, asserting that it had never actually shared user information under these circumstances.
The privacy implications of Telegram’s revised position are far-reaching.
Telegram is especially popular with hackers, scammers, violent criminals, child abusers and others, not necessarily because of the security of this message (Telegram messages are not end-to-end encrypted by default, and in the 404 Media experience, this feature is rarely used by criminals). Instead, the application’s social network-like features allow for massive channels and group chats where hundreds or thousands of people can easily discover and interact with each other, and (until recently) the correct understanding that Telegram most likely did not transmit user data to the authorities even when requested. – 404 Media
The increase in data sharing with U.S. authorities doesn’t just mean a change in policy; it’s a pivotal moment in Telegram’s history – balancing user privacy and regulatory compliance scales. As the platform moves forward, users’ trust now hangs in balance.
The company is expected to release its next round of transparency data in April.
