In recent months, Telegram has been under increasing scrutiny, raising questions about its privacy practices and the implications of its founder Pavel Durov’s legal troubles. The app experienced its second major outage in three days just a few days ago. The cause of the disruption remains unknown, but this isn’t the only concern users should have about Telegram’s operations.
At the centre of Telegram’s recent controversies is Durov himself, who was briefly arrested in France in August 2024. His detention came amid concerns that the platform was being used by criminals with little or no interference from Telegram. Durov has always been vocal about his commitment to free speech and the principle of minimal restrictions on user activity. However, this arrest appears to have marked a turning point in how Telegram handles user data and privacy, potentially compromising the principles the app was built on.
Irina Bolgar’s Lawsuit and Its Impact on Durov
The legal drama surrounding Durov doesn’t stop at his brief arrest. The New York Times recently highlighted the position of Irina Bolgar, the mother of Durov’s three children, in a Swiss lawsuit against the billionaire. Bolgar insists that she and Durov had a family relationship that deteriorated in 2021, with Durov allegedly becoming aggressive toward their children. According to the report, the details of Durov’s personal life could further complicate his legal challenges in Europe.
This lawsuit may seem unrelated to Telegram’s operations, but it reveals a more troubling aspect of Durov’s character, suggesting that his judgment and decisions are increasingly questionable. The overlap between his personal and professional struggles cannot be ignored, and users are left wondering how much of this turmoil could affect Telegram’s leadership and direction.
Changes in Telegram’s Privacy Policies
In September 2024, Telegram quietly adjusted its privacy policies. Durov announced that the platform would begin sharing users’ phone numbers and IP addresses with authorities under specific conditions. This marks a significant departure from Telegram’s earlier policy, which only allowed for data sharing in cases involving terrorism. Now, crimes such as fraud, spam, violence promotion, arms and drug trafficking, child abuse, and pornography are included under the platform’s updated terms.
Durov was quick to downplay the extent of these changes, but the shift is undeniable. Paragraph 8.3 of Telegram’s Terms of Service now allows law enforcement access to user data upon receiving a legitimate court order. While Durov claims that this is a targeted move to curb illegal activity on the platform, the broader implications of such changes cannot be ignored. For many, this raises serious concerns about Telegram’s future as a privacy-focused messaging app.
Is There a Broader Agenda at Play?
There’s no denying that Telegram’s recent policy changes coincide closely with Durov’s legal issues in Europe. Moreover, reports are emerging that Telegram has been holding users’ funds, particularly targeting Russian nationalities. This growing trend of privacy compromises has some questioning whether Telegram’s latest actions are part of a broader deal. Could Durov’s legal entanglements be influencing the app’s decisions to compromise user privacy?
Is Telegram’s Privacy Being Sacrificed?
Pavel Durov’s arrest and ongoing legal issues have exposed a disturbing shift in Telegram’s once unshakeable commitment to privacy. The sudden policy changes, including handing over user data and holding funds—especially targeting Russian nationals—signal a betrayal of the platform’s core principles. Is Durov trading users’ privacy to secure his legal freedom? The evidence points to a darker reality: Telegram may be compromising its users’ trust and data in a desperate move to placate authorities. This isn’t just a policy adjustment—it’s a clear warning that Telegram is no longer the privacy fortress it once claimed to be.