According to CEO Pavel Durov, messaging app Telegram will provide users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests.
The platform has changed its terms of service to prevent criminals from abusing it, Durov said in a Telegram post on Monday. The move comes less than a month after his arrest in France, where he is accused of allegedly aiding and abetting the distribution of child abuse material.
The move marks a marked departure from Telegram’s approach to government data requests and its reputation for lax moderation. The UAE-based platform has been notoriously unresponsive to takedown requests from governments around the world and has frequently ignored requests for information on suspected criminals.
