According to Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, the well-known messaging app, has revised its terms of service to deter “bad actors” from “jeopardising the integrity” of the platform.
According to a statement by Durov on Monday, Telegram will now provide the IP addresses and phone numbers of users who break the app’s rules to the appropriate authorities “in response to valid legal requests. ”
Read also: Telegram’s latest update empowers users to combat explicit content in private DMs
Users data requests to be subjected to legal analysis before release
Before now, Telegram had only agreed to reveal users’ IP addresses and phone numbers if it obtained a court order indicating the user was considered a terrorist. The transparency report from Telegram claims such has never occurred before.
The new policy applies to those accused of breaking any of Telegram’s regulations. The business said it would “conduct a legal analysis” of the authorities’ request before revealing user data. Durov claims that these actions will be “consistent across the world.”
The amended guidelines specifically target users who use Telegram’s search function as a front to sell illicit goods.
Durov underlined, “Telegram search should be used for news and friend discovery, not for advertising illicit goods.”
Telegram moderators have employed artificial intelligence in recent weeks to make the platform’s search function “much safer. ” According to Durov, information detected as harmful has been made unavailable.
Read also: Telegram claims ‘accusations against Pavel Durov are absurd’
Panel Durov’s arrest and Telegram’s new policy: the connection
The CEO of Telegram, who was born in Russia, is currently under formal investigation in France for several crimes, including helping to distribute child pornography and sell drugs on the site. This news coincides with the announcement of Telegram’s new privacy policy.
Security experts and law enforcement have compiled a substantial body of evidence about illicit activities on Telegram, including recruiting and group organising inside extremist organisations.
Durov stated on his Telegram channel that he wanted to make his app “safer and stronger” after the probe.
Durov says, “Telegram’s sudden surge in user base to 950M created growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform. For this reason, I’ve set myself to ensure we improve in this area.”
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