Telegram's new policy shift tackles illegal content abuse

Telegram has grown significantly and is now among the most popular internet messengers. It boasts an impressive base of 950 million users globally.

Telegram users are certainly wondering about the messenger's future. Let's recall that Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram, was detained on August 24 at Paris Le Bourget Airport. Pavel Durov is accused of a lack of cooperation with law enforcement, as Telegram has become a tool used by criminals.

The founder himself openly admits that Telegram must change, as highlighted in an official statement published on September 5.

"Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950M caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform. That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon," writes Pavel Durov.

The founder mentions that the change process has begun, and the effects are already visible. As noted by The Verge, the FAQ section on Telegram's official website (referring to the English version) has been updated. It concerns the question about illegal content and how to remove it. As of September 5, the response read: "All Telegram chats and group chats are private amongst their participants. We do not process any requests related to them."

It has now been removed and replaced with the information that "All Telegram apps have 'Report' buttons that allow marking illegal content for our moderators – it only takes a few taps," along with detailed instructions on how to proceed. Telegram may change even more in the coming days or weeks.