Telegram Reconsiders Privacy Stance Following CEO's Arrest

Things have taken a sharp turn for Telegram after its CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France two weeks ago. Durov, known for fiercely protecting user privacy, now faces accusations of allowing criminal activity to flourish on the app, including the spread of child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking. French authorities claim Telegram wasn't exactly eager to help with investigations, and that's where it all started to unravel.


On Thursday, Durov broke his silence with a public statement, admitting that Telegram has faced growing pains as its user base exploded to 950 million. And in a move that surprised many, he acknowledged that the platform needs to step up its moderation efforts. This comes after years of Telegram priding itself on privacy and hands-off moderation. But, apparently, times are changing.

What's particularly eyebrow-raising is that Telegram quietly updated its FAQ page in the past 24 hours. Previously, the page assured users that private chats were just that—private—and that no moderation requests would be processed for them. But now, that language has been wiped away. In its place is a new message explaining that Telegram users can flag illegal content with just a few taps using the in-app report button. It's a big shift from the app's original stance on privacy and could signal more changes ahead.

Durov's statement mentioned that Telegram's rapid growth made it vulnerable to abuse by bad actors, and the platform was already working to address this issue internally. While he didn't spill too many details, Durov promised that more updates on Telegram's progress are coming soon. It looks like the app, once a bastion of privacy, might be rethinking its priorities in the wake of these serious allegations.

For now, Telegram users will have to wait and see what further changes the company rolls out. But one thing is clear: the platform's approach to privacy and moderation is evolving—whether users like it or not.

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