Telegram CEO Durov says app will provide governments with more data

(Bloomberg) — Messaging app Telegram will provide users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to relevant authorities in accordance with valid legal requirements, CEO Pavel Durov said.

Durov posted on Telegram on Monday that the platform had changed its terms of service to stop criminals from abusing it. The move comes less than a month after his arrest in France, where he faces charges of conspiring to distribute child sexual abuse material.

The move is a marked departure from the way Telegram handles government data requests and its reputation for being lenient. The United Arab Emirates-based platform is notoriously unresponsive to takedown requests from governments around the world and often ignores requests for information about suspected criminals.

Durov said the app, which uses artificial intelligence and a team of moderation, has now begun hiding problematic content from its search results as part of an effort to prevent abuse.

French prosecutors in August charged Russian-born Durov with crimes allegedly committed on the app. The case portrays the billionaire CEO as the head of a company that refused to provide data to law enforcement to assist in legal wiretaps against criminal suspects.

Durov, who was ordered to remain in France during the investigation, denies the charges.

Under Durov’s leadership, Telegram drew the ire of governments ranging from the European Union to authoritarian regimes in Russia and Iran. It has been exploited by protesters trying to organize against the authorities, while also becoming a hub for conspiracy theorists and extremists.

For example, white supremacists in the United States have used Telegram for years to coordinate attacks on electrical infrastructure.

The Kremlin tried to block Telegram in 2018 but reversed course two years later after failing to shut down the service. Russian regulators said that after the ban was lifted, Durov had sent a signal that he would help fight extremism and terrorism.

Durov’s arrest led to some policy changes at Telegram. Earlier this month, Telegram disabled new media uploads, a move Durov said was aimed at stopping bots and scammers.

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