Telegram Increases User Data Sharing Following CEO’s Arrest

The messaging platform has significantly expanded its cooperation with global law enforcement agencies after policy changes in late 2024.

Telegram shared data on over 2,200 U.S. users in 2024, a dramatic rise from just 14 cases earlier in the year.
The policy shift followed the August 2024 arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France, where he faced charges including enabling illegal activities on the platform.
Transparency reports reveal a surge in data-sharing globally, with countries like India, France, and the U.K. seeing substantial increases in fulfilled law enforcement requests.
Telegram’s updated privacy policy now allows data sharing for crimes beyond terrorism, including cybercrime and fraud, marking a major departure from its previous stance.
The changes have prompted some criminal groups to leave the platform, though analysts note the overall impact on illicit activity remains unclear.