Beware of Telegram The application has started handing over users’ names and phone numbers to the judiciary
Telegram owner and founder Pavel Durov announced on Monday that he is tightening moderation on his social network, which means, among other things, that he will hand over data of people who do not respect his rules if the justice system demands it.
In a message on his profile on the platform, Durov, who was arrested and charged in France in late August for posting illegal content, warned that “the IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate our rules may be disclosed to other people.” He has been contacted by the relevant authorities in response to previous legal requests.
The businessman insisted it was about "continuing to deter criminals from abusing our rules".
Durov said that these measures are primarily aimed at "people who do not respect our rules for selling illegal products."
Monday's announcement is the result of work by a team of moderators who used artificial intelligence to make the platform's search engine "more secure."
“All illegal content we identified is no longer accessible through the Telegram search engine,” Durov said.
This contrasts with the situation until now, when Telegram only shared information about its users in terrorism-related investigations.
However, they have now been warned that if they are suspected in an investigation into criminal activities that also violate the network's internal rules, there will be a "legal analysis of the demands" that come from justice.
Since his arrest upon his arrival in Paris on August 24, Durov has begun to cooperate with justice in France, but also in other countries.