Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, announced on Monday that the app will now share user data, such as phone numbers and IP addresses, with authorities in response to valid legal requests.
This significant update to the app’s terms of service coincides with Durov’s arrest in France for refusing to assist law enforcement in investigating criminal activity on the messaging platform.
Durov stated on Telegram that these changes are intended to deter criminals from misusing the app, and added that artificial intelligence and human moderators will be employed to prevent problematic content from appearing in search results.
Telegram has been accused by authorities worldwide of being a hub for criminal activities, including allegations of facilitating drug and human trafficking operations and the distribution of child sexual content. The app had gained notoriety for its lack of responsiveness to official requests to remove content or provide user data for law enforcement purposes.
Following the arrest of the Russian-born Durov in France in August, many cybercriminals reportedly started abandoning the app in anticipation of potential changes to its content moderation policies.