Telegram was long regarded as an alternative messenger to WhatsApp and Line, promising special security. However, the platform is now criticized for betraying its fundamental values.
Telegram launched in 2013 and promised to be a messenger that protects user data, as was noted in media reports such as on FirstPost. Especially in countries with restricted freedom of speech, Telegram became a digital refuge. However, these promises of protection seem to be faltering: In the first quarter of 2025, Telegram provided the data of 22,777 users to authorities.
How easily personal data can be spied on is shown by an experiment conducted by students who observed passersby with a hidden camera. See the video here:
Between Freedom and Control
How did the turnaround come about? In 2024, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in France, as reported by the newspaper LeMonde. Authorities accused Telegram of providing a platform for extremists and criminal groups. Although Durov was soon released, the mood at Telegram has shifted. The platform is now trying to cooperate more closely with authorities to reduce political pressure while also deterring criminals from using it.
Telegram reported in its transparency report that in the first three months of 2025 alone, the data of 22,777 users were handed over to authorities, a significant increase compared to 5,826 users in the same period of 2024. These numbers were published by Telegram as part of its semi-annual Transparency Reports, which provide insight into government requests and data handovers.
In a public statement (via WIRED), Durov himself states that only a small minority of users misuse the platform for illegal purposes. However, this group threatens the image of Telegram and thus the safety of the nearly one billion users worldwide.
What data does Telegram share? Telegram emphasizes in its privacy policy that it mainly releases metadata, meaning information like IP addresses, phone numbers, device types, or timestamps of messages. Content of messages remains encrypted according to Telegram, at least in the ‘Secret Chats’ that are end-to-end encrypted. All other chats, groups, and channels, on the other hand, go through Telegram servers and are not fully encrypted. Moreover, Telegram’s source code is only partially open, which complicates independent verification.
What does this mean for users? Especially in countries where surveillance is commonplace, even metadata can be dangerous. They are often sufficient to identify individuals, create movement profiles, or expose communication networks. Users who previously saw Telegram as a safe refuge must be aware that their data is now increasingly shared with authorities, even if Telegram emphasizes that it only responds to legally binding requests.
While Telegram is increasingly showing transparency, other messengers are also facing data protection scandals. A recent case shows how sensitive the handling of sensitive messages can become. Especially when authorities are involved themselves. A public prosecutor wanted to delete private chats on WhatsApp, but a mistake could now have serious consequences.
