Telegram has been the number one app for criminals to use as they hide from the world. It’s been touted as the “the new darknet, the new tor browser” and the fastest growing black market. But as it’s governments crack down on its uses, and it’s founder ,Pavel Durov, was arrested. The app has officially made changes to it’s ToS. Does this make Telegram no longer a viable source for Darknet users?
Key Insights
- Telegram will now share users’ IP addresses and phone numbers with authorities upon legal request.
- This policy shift marks a departure from Telegram’s previous stance on strict data privacy.
- The app will only disclose data after judicial approval and for crimes violating its internal rules.
- Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested on August 24, 2024, accused of various criminal activities. However the clear target was Telegram’s criminals
- Durov was released on €5 million bail.
- Governments in Europe and the U.S. are increasing pressure on tech firms to comply with law enforcement requests. Laws like the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and U.S. CLOUD Act push for cooperation from tech companies.
- Critics worry that Telegram’s privacy reputation will be harmed by closer cooperation with law enforcement. Signal and Session are the main competitors to consider
- Elon Musk and privacy advocate Meredith Whittaker have voiced concerns over free speech and privacy rights.
- Telegram’s cryptocurrency token, TON, lost 17% in value following Durov’s arrest.
- Telegram has reportedly already shared data with French police in child crime investigations.
Telegram has changed its rules, and now it will share the IP address of its users and their phone numbers with the police or any other authorities if that is requested through proper legal procedures. That means a big shift has happened because earlier, Telegram was fully strict against sharing any user’s data with anyone, even government authorities.
They assured that they would only disclose such information when the request had been approved by a judge and for a crime that also constituted a violation of the rules at Telegram. Where Telegram does make disclosures, they will publish quarterly reports to keep users informed about when and for what purposes information has been given.
This has sent Dread users and Telegram vendors into a frenzy. As per an d/Opsec Post on Dread by well-known user u/HeadJanitor
“Durov also revealed that Telegram had improved its search feature, which is known for widespread abuse to sell and promote illegal goods. He said a dedicated team has been working over the last few weeks to remove problematic content from the platform’s search results. The move comes after Durov, the Russian-born founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France in connection with an investigation into Telegram’s use for fraud, drug trafficking, and illegal content distribution.”
u/HeadJanitor went on to note that his suggestiong is Signal. “Signal is the root of all the chat apps. Signal is years ahead of it’s time. It’s cryptography is a work of art, a masterpiece. Most of the apps out there have forked Signal’s cryptography and the people have no clue.” though for those wondering, Session is a great alternative too.
Durov’s Arrest and Government Pressure
This massive change comes after the main man himself, Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested on August 24 at Bourget Airport near Paris, France. Durov, a billionaire from Russia, was accused of several crimes, including helping with drug trafficking, spreading illegal content like child pornography, committing fraud, money laundering, and offering illegal cryptographic services. These accusations have naturally brought a lot of unwanted attention to Telegram, and governments are now pushing for more control over the app.
Durov was released on bail for €5 million, but Telegram is now under a lot of pressure from governments around the world to be more careful about how it handles content and to share user information with authorities. Many governments, especially in Europe and the United States, have been trying to get tech companies like Telegram to cooperate with the law when it comes to criminal activities.
Changes in the Law and Telegram’s Policy
According to experts like Daria Lysenko, a lawyer who specializes in crypto laws, new rules from governments are becoming stricter. Laws like the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and the U.S. CLOUD Act are forcing companies like Telegram to help the government with investigations. Lysenko said that while some platforms, like Facebook, have been quick to follow these rules, Telegram has been more resistant. However, this new policy shows that Telegram is starting to cooperate more, but only in certain situations.
In the past, Durov strongly resisted government requests for user information, insisting that communication should be private, like cryptocurrency wallets. But since his arrest and the changes to Telegram’s policy, the app has begun to monitor content more closely. The company says they are not changing their privacy rules completely, but they are now open to sharing information in cases of serious criminal investigations.
Concerns About Free Speech and Privacy
This new policy has drawn numerous debates on free speech and privacy. With over 700 million subscribers, Telegram has always been a haven for those looking for secure communication. Critics worry that this new change in their policies may affect the reputation of the platform by making it less private, especially now that it is starting to work more closely with law enforcement.
However, the chief executive of X, formerly known as Twitter, Elon Musk, emerged to criticize the arrest of Durov as a threat to free speech. On social media, Musk supported Durov, citing that people should be allowed to express themselves without governments in control. Similarly, privacy advocates such as Meredith Whittaker, who runs a privacy-centric app called Signal, agreed that technology companies are facing hard times because of political pressures.
The Impact on TON Token and Telegram’s Future
Durov’s arrest has affected Telegram’s linked cryptocurrency token, TON. After the news of his arrest, the value of TON dropped by as much as 17%, though since the most recent announcement its remained relatively stable. Even though the TON team has assured users that the project is still working fine, many people are worried about the future of Telegram and its leadership.
Experts think Telegram will now have to be more careful when dealing with government requests. While the platform might not completely give in to every demand, it is expected to cooperate more in cases like terrorism and financial crime. Lysenko, the lawyer, said that Telegram will likely find a middle ground between protecting privacy and obeying the law.
In France, media reports suggest that Telegram has already started sharing data with the police. According to the Libération newspaper, Telegram gave information to help French authorities catch criminals who harmed children. This shows that Telegram is now working more closely with the government, a big change from its past stance.
Conclusion
Telegram’s decision to share user IP addresses and phone numbers with authorities is a big change for the platform. For a long time, Telegram was known for keeping user information private. Now, governments are asking tech companies like Telegram to help fight crime by sharing information when it’s needed. Some users who trusted Telegram to protect their privacy might be worried about how their data is being shared. Telegram has promised to give updates every few months to show when and why they share user information, but the change might still cause concerns about privacy and safety.
So for Darknet Users and Telegram Vendors, its time clean shop and jump ship elsewhere… at least while the water is mirky.
Informative article, just what I needed.
I’m using telegram for ordering weed and blow. it’s feels like they sold up their users… there is any alternative?
This article highlights some serious concerns about privacy if Telegram starts handing over user IP addresses to authorities. It makes you wonder if it’s still the platform we’ve come to trust for secure messaging. Would be interesting to see how this affects their reputation, especially with those who value anonymity.
This is incredibly concerning. It almost feels like Telegram’s CEO has been compromised, and now someone is using that situation to gain unauthorized access to the app.