Telegram will transmit the IP address and phone number of criminals at the request of law enforcers

Telegram's owner, Pavel Durov, shared some updates regarding the platform that will make its use for illegal purposes more difficult.

Durov noted that the search feature in Telegram is more powerful than in other messaging apps, as it allows users to find public channels and bots. Unfortunately, this capability has been misused by individuals who violated the platform’s Terms of Service by selling illegal goods.

“In recent weeks, a dedicated team of moderators has made Telegram's search significantly safer by utilizing artificial intelligence. All problematic content identified in Search is no longer accessible. If you still happen to find anything dangerous or illegal in Telegram's Search, please report it to us via @SearchReport,” wrote Pavel Durov.

Simultaneously, Telegram has updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to "further deter criminals." From now on, the IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate the rules may be provided to the appropriate law enforcement agencies in response to their legal requests.

“These measures are aimed at deterring offenders,” Durov believes. “Telegram's search is intended for finding friends and news, not for promoting illegal goods. We will not allow malicious actors to compromise the integrity of our platform for nearly a billion users.”

It’s worth noting that a month ago, Pavel Durov was detained at an airport in France and subsequently interrogated on 12 counts of accusations.