Telegram Brings Changes After Co-Founder’s Arrest

• Telegram has introduced a report button, allowing users to flag any illicit activity.
• The platform also updated its FAQs to highlight its security features.
• Pavel Durov spoke for the first time since his arrest and called out law enforcement agencies.

Following the recent arrest of Russian-French entrepreneur and Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov, the social messaging platform has revised its “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) to clarify how it handles illicit content and defend its stance on illegal activity.

Changes to FAQ on Illegal Content

Telegram modified its response to the FAQ: “There’s illegal content on Telegram. How do I take it down?” The previous answer stated that group chats on the platform are private and Telegram doesn’t censor them. The updated response now states:

“All Telegram chats and group chats are private amongst their participants. We do not process any requests related to them.”

Telegram also added a “Report” button that allows users to flag content for various reasons, including spam, violence, child abuse, illegal drugs, personal details, pornography, or others.

It is currently not clear how this change would affect the handling of Telegram and its activities by law enforcement requests. Users can also report Telegram posts by simply emailing their grievances using [email protected].

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov was recently arrested in France, prompting calls for his release from high-profile individuals, including Elon Musk. Authorities accused Durov and his platform of deliberately refusing to cooperate with law enforcement.

Read also: Telegram Founder’s Arrest Raises Alarm at United Nations

Durov Breaks Silence

In his first public statement since arrest, Durov posted on Telegram, arguing that authorities used laws from “the pre-smartphone era” to charge him with “crimes committed by third parties,” calling this action “a misguided approach.” He acknowledged that maintaining a perfect balance between privacy and security is challenging.

Read also: Pavel Durov’s Arrest Shakes TON, but ChickKings Stands Strong

The Telegram co-founder stated that in case his firm fails to agree with a country’s regulator, he is ready to abandon operations in the region. Durov emphasized that he never created Telegram for money and is willing to “leave markets that aren’t compatible” with the social messaging platform’s principles.