Telegram Transparency Report Highlights Rising Data Demands from Law Enforcement

Newly released transparency data from the Telegram messaging platform has revealed a sharp increase in the number of user data requests fulfilled over the past year.

404 Media initially reported on Telegram’s updated transparency report, which revealed a dramatic uptick in the number of police requests in 2024.

Telegram’s transparency data is accessible only with a Telegram account and limited to the region of the requesting user.

Here are some of the highlights:

• The United States: Telegram handed over phone numbers and IP addresses to authorities in the US on 900 occasions in 2024, impacting 2,253 users. This marks a substantial rise from 14 fulfilled requests affecting 108 users earlier in the year.
• India: Indian authorities received user data on 14,641 occasions, affecting 23,535 users in 2024, underscoring a sharp increase in compliance.
• United Kingdom: Telegram provided user data to authorities in the UK 142 times, impacting 293 users. This is a notable rise from single-digit figures in the previous reporting period.

The surge in data demands comes months after Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested by French authorities in August. The arrest stemmed from Telegram’s previous reluctance to cooperate with law enforcement, particularly regarding child exploitation investigations. Following Durov’s arrest, Telegram appears to have relaxed its policy on responding to abuse reports, leading to greater compliance with data requests.

Why Police May Request User Data From Telegram

Law enforcement agencies typically request user data from messaging platforms like Telegram to investigate and prevent illegal activities. Common reasons include child exploitation investigations, terrorism monitoring, cybercrimes, fraud, and other illicit activities.

These requests are typically made under legal frameworks, which require platforms to comply in specific circumstances. However, the extent of compliance depends on the platform’s policies and the jurisdiction of the request.

Here’s what Telegram’s Privacy Policy has to say about sharing user data with law enforcement:

“If Telegram receives a valid order from the relevant judicial authorities that confirms you're a suspect in a case involving criminal activities that violate the Telegram Terms of Service, we will perform a legal analysis of the request and may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities. If any data is shared, we will include such occurrences in a quarterly transparency report published at: https://t.me/transparency.”

Messaging Apps and Criminal Activity

Messaging apps like Telegram are often hubs for illegal activities due to their ease of use, encryption, and global reach. Cybercriminals exploit these platforms to conduct illicit activities ranging from coordinating scams and fraud to sharing illegal content.

This creates risks for regular users who may unwittingly interact with or participate in criminal activities, such as unknowingly joining groups linked to illegal operations or clicking on malicious links shared in chats. For law-abiding users, these interactions can lead to unintended scrutiny or involvement in investigations, underscoring the importance of vigilance and awareness when using such platforms.

Safety Measures for Users

To protect privacy and reduce the risk of unwittingly becoming involved in illicit activities, users should adopt proactive safety measures when using messaging apps like Telegram:

• Regularly review and update your privacy settings to limit who can contact you or add you to groups.
• Avoid clicking on links from unknown sources and exercise caution when joining unfamiliar groups.
• Strengthen account security by enabling 2FA, impeding unauthorized access.
• Don’t share sensitive personal details in chats, even with seemingly trustworthy contacts.
• Stay up to date on Telegram’s data handling and transparency practices to better understand the risks.
• Use in-app reporting tools to flag illegal or abusive content, helping to keep the platform safer for everyone.

By implementing these measures, users can mitigate privacy risks and reduce their exposure to potential scrutiny or unintended legal implications.

To further improve online privacy and safeguard your digital identity, opt for digital identity protection from Bitdefender.

Services like Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection can provide an extra layer of security for users concerned about their online privacy. This tool helps monitor your personal data across the internet, alerting you to potential exposure and offering insights to safeguard your digital identity. With data breaches and government requests for information on the rise, proactive monitoring ensures you stay ahead of potential threats.