Telegram to Share More Data With Governments Following CEO Arrest

Telegram has revealed that it plans to increase data sharing with governments. This decision starkly contrasts with Telegram's previous positioning as a privacy-focused platform that champions free speech.

CEO Pavel Durov stated that the messaging app will share users' IP addresses and phone numbers with authorities in response to legitimate legal requests where criminal conduct is being investigated.

Durov was previously arrested in France after arriving on a private jet at Le Bourget Airport. The Russian native who holds French citizenship and lives in UAE was arrested under a warrant for offenses connected to the Telegram app.

Telegram is accused of being under-moderated and allowing for the proliferation of illegal activity including drug trafficking, child pornography, terrorism, and fraud. Durov and Telegram are also under fire for refusing to cooperate with authorities.

This came after recent policy updates where Telegram revised its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and removed a statement that previously declared, "All Telegram chats and group chats are private amongst their participants. We do not process any requests related to them."

This has been replaced with "All Telegram apps have 'Report' buttons that let you flag illegal content for our moderators — in just a few taps."

Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov also announced on his channel that Telegram is committed to engaging with regulators to find the right balance but that there will still be instances of disagreement.

It is unclear how these policy changes will affect the company financially, as recent financial statements revealed that Telegram generated $342 million in revenue with an operating loss of $107 million, largely due to significant development and support expenses.