A dramatic increase in Telegram's cooperation with law enforcement emerged following the arrest of CEO Pavel Durov in France last year, according to the company's latest transparency report.
The messaging platform, which previously limited data sharing to terrorism cases, has expanded its cooperation to include fraud and cybercrime investigations. This policy shift came after Durov's arrest in August 2023 and his release on a $5 million bond.
The numbers tell a striking story: In the first nine months of 2023, Telegram responded to just 14 US government requests affecting 108 users. However, in the final quarter alone, the company fulfilled 886 requests impacting 2,145 users - bringing the yearly total to 900 requests covering 2,253 users.
This represents a more than 6,000% increase in fulfilled US law enforcement requests, marking a notable departure from Telegram's previous stance on user privacy. The company now shares user information including phone numbers and IP addresses when requested by authorities.
Callie Guenther, senior manager of cyber-threat research at Critical Start, suggests this development may push cybercriminals toward alternative platforms like Signal or Session, or deeper into darknet services. This migration could create a more fragmented landscape for both criminals and law enforcement.
The policy change reflects mounting pressure on technology companies to assist law enforcement while maintaining user privacy protections. Telegram's next transparency report, expected in April, will provide further insight into this evolving dynamic between privacy concerns and security requirements.