Telegram has announced a new update to its privacy policies, allowing users to report private chats that violate laws and regulations. These changes come after the arrest of the app’s founder, Pavel Durov, in France last month on charges related to crimes committed using the app by other parties.
According to “TechCrunch,” a site specializing in technology news, Telegram, which has around one billion active users monthly, was previously known for its minimal oversight of interactions between users. With the new update, a report button has been added, enabling users to easily report inappropriate content through simple steps. Additionally, the text on the app’s “Frequently Asked Questions” page has been updated to reflect this addition.
Other changes adopted by Telegram include the removal of the “People Nearby” feature due to its misuse by spammers and fraudsters, as well as disabling users’ ability to upload multimedia—a feature used for blogging within the app—after it was exploited by unknown entities.
Regarding the potential impact of these updates on how Telegram responds to law enforcement demands, the extent of these changes’ effect on its ability to handle such requests has yet to be clarified. Remy Vaughan, Telegram’s spokesperson, stated that the modification in the reporting policy was made to streamline the process of reporting harmful content, making it easier for users to file complaints to moderators.
