Telegram has disclosed that it provided user data to U.S. law enforcement agencies in response to 900 requests, affecting 2,253 users, between January 1 and December 13, 2024.
This marks a significant increase from previous years, largely due to a policy change in September 2024, where Telegram expanded its data-sharing practices beyond terrorism-related cases to include other criminal activities, such as cybercrime.
The shared information primarily includes users’ phone numbers and IP addresses.
Expert Analysis:
Telegram’s policy shift reflects a growing trend among communication platforms to balance user privacy with legal obligations to combat criminal activities.
While this move aims to deter illicit use of the platform, it raises concerns about potential overreach and the erosion of user trust.
Users should be aware that absolute privacy cannot be guaranteed on any platform, especially when legal interventions are involved.
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