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This update, without a doubt, marks a major deviation from Telegram’s previous policy that did not give room for moderating private chats.
Telegram is literally clinging to the popular saying which goes: desperate times call for desperate measures. This follows after the messaging app recently got embroiled in a scandal following the arrest of its founder Pavel Durov in France last month.
Telegram Effects Notable Shift in Policy in the Wake of CEO Arrest
To safeguard itself better, the app has now shared an interesting update on its frequently asked questions (FAQ) section, showing that it has now revised its policy. With this policy change, Telegram users may now flag content in their private chats that they deem inappropriate or illegal. The flagged content will then be reviewed by moderators.
This update, without a doubt, marks a major deviation from Telegram’s previous policy that did not give room for moderating private chats. The old FAQ read:
“All Telegram chats and group chats are private between their participants. We do not process any requests related to them.”
According to reports, Durov’s arrest in late August had to do with a major investigation into the messaging app. At the time, French authorities believed that the platform had become a safe haven for bad actors and their illegal operations. Hence, his detention lasted for four days.
Although now released under judicial supervision, Durov faces preliminary charges, with legal consequences looming if convicted.
Pavel Durov Responds
Meanwhile, Pavel Durov has now issued his first public comments since the arrest. On Thursday, the CEO admitted that the platform has grown at such an explosive rate that criminal elements may now be taking advantage of it. However, he strongly refuted the claims that Telegram is a haven for illegal activity. “We are not an anarchic paradise for criminals. In fact, we actively remove harmful content,” he noted.
About the issues in France, Durov took the opportunity to reiterate Telegram’s commitment to its core principles of privacy and security. That is, even if it means exiting certain markets as Telegram did when it withdrew from Russia and Iran. His statement reads in part:
“Sometimes we can’t agree with a country’s regulator on the right balance between privacy and security. In those cases, we are ready to leave that country.”
He went on to share that Telegram has no problem leaving markets that are not compatible with the company’s principles. The CEO noted that the drive for Telegram is not money but the intention to bring good and defend the basic rights of people.
For now, Durov is required to stay in France amid the investigation into Telegram’s alleged facilitation of illegal activities, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and the spread of child pornography through its cryptography tools and services.
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Mayowa is a crypto enthusiast/writer whose conversational character is quite evident in his style of writing. He strongly believes in the potential of digital assets and takes every opportunity to reiterate this. He's a reader, a researcher, an astute speaker, and also a budding entrepreneur. Away from crypto however, Mayowa's fancied distractions include soccer or discussing world politics.
