Telegram's Data Sharing Surges Following CEO’s Arrest

Telegram, the encrypted messaging platform, experienced a sharp rise in law enforcement data requests in late 2024, triggered by CEO Pavel Durov's arrest in France in August. Durov, a dual citizen of France and Russia, was detained over accusations that he was enabling organized crime and Telegram's prior reluctance to cooperate with authorities.

Following Durov’s release on a €5 million bond, Telegram amended its privacy policy, which originally limited data sharing to only terrorism-related cases. By late September 2024, the platform had expanded this policy to include “criminal activities that violate the Telegram Terms of Service”. Telegram agreed to share IP addresses and phone numbers upon valid legal requests and committed to publishing transparency reports.

According to Telegram’s latest transparency data, shared first by 404 Media, the number of legal requests surged dramatically:

• United States: Requests jumped from 14 (impacting 108 users) earlier in 2024 to 900 (impacting 2,253 users) by year-end.
• India: Telegram complied with 14,641 requests, affecting 23,535 users, reflecting heightened cooperation.
• United Kingdom: Requests rose to 142, impacting 293 users, rising from single-digit figures in prior reporting periods.

Callie Guenther, senior manager of cyber-threat research at Critical Start, stated: “This development is expected to prompt many cybercriminals to migrate to alternative platforms that prioritize privacy or employ decentralized infrastructures. Platforms such as Signal or Session may become the next hubs for illicit activities.”

Telegram’s revised policy also reflects growing global pressure on tech companies to assist law enforcement. However, critics argue that balancing these obligations with user privacy remains a contentious issue.

“The trade-off between privacy and security remains contentious,” Guenther said. “Over time, cybercriminals are likely to adapt to the new landscape, increasing the operational complexity for both investigators and cybersecurity professionals. Balancing these considerations will be essential to addressing the evolving dynamics of online threats without undermining broader privacy protections.”

Telegram insists that any shared data stems from valid judicial orders, as outlined in its privacy policy. However, critics remain skeptical about the implications of the platform’s increasing compliance, particularly for users in politically sensitive regions.

This comes as governments around the world aim to tighten control over social media companies. For example, the Vietnamese authorities implemented a law strengthening government oversight of digital platforms used by its citizens.