Telegram app makes ‘biggest-ever’ change to its user privacy policy; will share these details with law enforcement agencies

Messaging app Telegram announced a major change to its privacy policy, stating it will now provide user data to law enforcement agencies in response to valid legal requests. This marks a significant departure from the company's previous stance on user privacy.
According to Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, the platform will disclose IP addresses and phone numbers of users suspected of criminal activities that violate Telegram's Terms of Service.This decision comes after Durov's arrest in France last month over alleged criminal activity on the platform.
"If Telegram receives a valid order from the relevant judicial authorities that confirms you're a suspect in a case involving criminal activities that violate the Telegram Terms of Service, we will perform a legal analysis of the request and may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities," the updated privacy policy states.
Previously, Telegram only shared user data in cases involving terror suspects. The company plans to publish quarterly transparency reports detailing any instances of data sharing with law enforcement.
In addition to the policy change, Telegram is implementing new moderation measures. Durov revealed that a team of moderators, aided by artificial intelligence, has been working to remove "problematic content" from the platform's search feature. Users are encouraged to report illegal or unsafe content through a dedicated reporting channel.
The move comes as Telegram faces increasing scrutiny over its use by criminal elements. With nearly a billion users, the platform has been criticised for its popularity among drug traffickers, money launderers, and extremist groups.
While the policy change may help address some concerns, it remains unclear how it will impact Telegram's private, end-to-end encrypted chats, where the company claims it cannot decipher the actual content of conversations.