Telegram boss Pavel Durov gives in! The billionaire, who was arrested in France, now wants to pass on IP addresses and phone numbers of users of his encrypted messenger app to authorities if they are clearly acting criminally.
Durov, a French-Russian national, was arrested in France last month and faces multiple charges, including distributing child pornography through his popular messaging app. On Monday, he announced that Telegram had changed its terms of service to deter criminals.
Until now, Telegram has often ignored government requests for user data. The app, which has hundreds of millions of users worldwide, is known for its privacy protection and refusal to cooperate with government agencies. It offers end-to-end encrypted chats that only the sender and recipient can read.
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However, critics claim that Telegram is the preferred means of communication for criminal organizations involved in money laundering, human trafficking and the distribution of child pornography.
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Telegram collects very little data compared to other messaging platforms. In the past, the company has said it would only share data with governments if the request is backed by a court order that is legally binding in the relevant jurisdiction.
Earlier this month, Durov vowed to step up efforts to combat criminal activity on his messaging app after French authorities filed preliminary charges against him.
The French allegations against Durov include using Telegram to exchange child pornography and drug trafficking, and refusing to share information or documents with investigators when required by law.
Durov, who has long said he has “nothing to hide,” is barred from leaving France while the investigation continues.
