Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, addressed issues concerning the misuse of Telegram’s search performance in a current submit, asserting vital updates to the platform’s moderation insurance policies.
In his Telegram submit, Durov emphasised that whereas Telegram’s search function permits customers to seek out public channels and bots extra simply than different messaging apps, it has been exploited by people promoting unlawful items.
Durov acknowledged that those that violate the platform’s guidelines could also be reported to related authorities in response to legitimate authorized requests.
“We’ve got up to date our Phrases of Service and Privateness Coverage, guaranteeing they’re constant the world over. We’ve made it clear that the IP addresses and cellphone numbers of those that violate our guidelines may be disclosed to related authorities in response to legitimate authorized requests.”
Durov
Telegram’s updates
Over the previous few weeks, Telegram has taken steps to reinforce search security by deploying a crew of moderators who’re leveraging synthetic intelligence, in line with Durov.
Durov acknowledged that these efforts have made Telegram Search considerably safer, with problematic content material eliminated. He urged customers to report any remaining unlawful or unsafe content material.
To discourage future abuse, Telegram has up to date its Phrases of Service and Privateness Coverage globally. These revisions make clear that customers’ IP addresses and cellphone numbers violating the platform’s guidelines could also be shared with authorities in response to legitimate authorized requests.
This coverage shift represents a marked change for Telegram, a platform beforehand recognized for prioritizing person privateness.
Durov’s submit concluded with a reaffirmation of Telegram’s mission that Telegram Search is “meant for locating pals and discovering information, not for selling unlawful items.” He added that the Telegram crew “received’t let unhealthy actors jeopardize the integrity of our platform for nearly a billion customers.”
Following his arrest, Telegram started complying with requests from legislation enforcement companies, per French newspaper Le Figaro.
Le Figaro reported that Telegram responded to a request from a European Union member state relating to an investigation into a bunch suspected of commissioning contract killings.
Pavel Durov’s arrest
Durov’s message comes at a time when he has grow to be the main target of authorized investigations. In August, Durov was arrested in France following allegations that Telegram was getting used for prison actions, together with drug trafficking and cybercrime.
His detention has led Telegram to extend cooperation with legislation enforcement authorities not solely in France but additionally in a number of different international locations.
Following his arrest, Durov publicly addressed the costs in opposition to him, defending Telegram’s moderation practices and criticizing authorities for concentrating on him immediately. Durov expressed shock on the authorized motion, emphasizing that Telegram has an official EU consultant to deal with legislation enforcement requests, questioning why authorities bypassed these channels to deal with him.
He described the costs as outdated, arguing that they maintain him accountable for customers’ actions, whereas highlighting the platform’s strong content material moderation and transparency efforts.
Durov’s current actions mark a shift for Telegram, which had beforehand been reluctant to share person information with authorities. Whether or not these measures will likely be sufficient to fulfill critics and forestall additional authorized challenges stays to be seen.
