Telegram will now cooperate and decide to collaborate with authorities and will now provide user information to governments

Telegram is exploring all avenues to improve its reputation, enhance its transparency and avoid possible suspensions.

The messaging network Telegram will report to the authorities, upon prior request, all accounts where illegal content is shared, according to its founder, Pavel Durov, who was arrested a month ago by the French authorities for some of the topics that appeared on the platform.

“We have made it clear that the IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate our rules may be disclosed to the relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests,” Durov wrote on his profile on the platform in order to “further deter criminals from abusing Telegram.”

Telegram has updated its privacy policy to improve its collaboration with governments. The platform will now be able to share with the authorities the phone number and IP (internet protocol) address of those users suspected of having committed an illegal act. The change comes a month after the arrest of Pavel Durov, CEO of the application. The executive was accused of enabling illegal activities on the service.

According to Telegram’s new data protection regulations, if the app “receives a valid order from judicial representatives confirming that you are a suspect in a case involving criminal activities, which violate Telegram’s Terms of Service, we will conduct a legal analysis of the request and may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities.” In the past, the condition only applied to subscribers who were allegedly involved in terrorist activities.

Written by Oscar El Blue

Founder of Telegram Pavel Durov