Janice R. Andrews
Users will be able to report unlawful content in group and private chats thanks to a major policy change being implemented by Telegram, a well-known messaging service that prioritizes privacy and encryption. This action is a reaction to government pressure and growing worries about the platform’s role in supporting illegal activity. According to CoinDesk, the regulation change was implemented covertly, with Telegram updating its FAQs to reflect the new features.
What’s Been Modified?
The onus of content moderation was previously on users of Telegram, with the FAQs explicitly stating that the platform does not control private or group chats. Nonetheless, Telegram has now revised its policies to emphasize that all app versions have a “Report” option. Depending on their device, users can report unlawful content by touching or pressing and holding the message. Users may report particular links to unlawful content using the in-app functionality and by sending an email to abuse@telegram.org, the platform’s dedicated takedown address.
The Change’s Catalyst
The update comes after Pavel Durov, the inventor of Telegram, was arrested in late August of 2024. As part of an investigation into Telegram’s involvement in enabling illicit operations, such as child pornography, drug trafficking, and hacking, Durov was held at a French airport. Durov was accused with both “complicity” in the crimes and refusal to help with investigations, however he has since been freed from detention. According to reports, Telegram has not responded to requests from French authorities. Durov vigorously denied this assertion in a public message posted on his channel.
In defense of himself, Durov said that Telegram has an official presence in the EU and has kept lines of communication open with law enforcement, including assisting in the establishment of a hotline in France for handling terrorist threats. The French authorities’ decision to accuse him of crimes committed by third parties on the platform was met with criticism from him, who described it as a “misguided approach.”
The Expanding Duties of Telegram
The arrest of Durov and the subsequent modifications to the rules highlight Telegram’s growing responsibility as the platform’s user base keeps expanding quickly. With 950 million users worldwide, Telegram has experienced a rapid surge in user numbers that, according to Durov, has made it more difficult for the network to properly filter content. In his tweet, he also stated that Telegram closes “millions of harmful posts and channels every day” and collaborates with non-governmental organizations to address urgent requests for moderation.
Authorities around Europe, especially in France, have chastised Telegram for what they see as its inability to stop illegal behavior in spite of these attempts. In reality, according to certain EU officials, Telegram lied about how many users it had in order to avoid being regulated by the Digital Services Act (DSA), which holds companies responsible for any harmful information housed on their networks.
Telegram’s Future Direction
The new “Report” option on Telegram is a big step toward better content filtering, but it also brings attention to the difficulties in striking a balance between privacy and legal obligations. Telegram has long been supported by Durov as a champion of user rights, especially in nations like Russia where the service was outlawed for refusing to give the authorities access to encryption keys. But because of the way the platform is growing so quickly, malicious actors now have more methods to take advantage of its capabilities. As a result, Telegram is under pressure to improve user safety and adhere to regulatory requirements.
Durov has promised to make changes as regulators continue to examine Telegram’s operations, admitting that the platform’s “growing pains” have resulted in gaps in moderation. It remains to be seen if these adjustments will be sufficient to appease regulators, but Telegram’s resolve to deal with illicit material is a positive move.
Telegram is striving to achieve a balance between user privacy and the legal duties imposed by foreign authorities by allowing the reporting of unlawful information in private chats. Its policy has recently changed in response to mounting criticism to stop the platform being used illegally.
