Telegram Hands Over Thousands Of Users Data To US Law Enforcement

Police departments around the globe have seen a spike in the amount of data obtained from Telegram following the apprehension of the company's CEO, Pavel Durov. According to Telegram's latest transparency report, 2,253 users had their IP addresses and/or phone numbers disclosed in response to 900 requests from U.S. law enforcement agencies in 2024. This represents a notable increase compared to the mere 14 requests processed by Telegram between January 1 and September 30, 2024.

In August, Durov was detained in France on allegations of non-cooperation in child sexual abuse inquiries. A month later, Durov announced that the company would comply with government requests for data, a move it had previously opposed. The latest on the progress of Durov's legal situation in France remains unknown. It was also reported by Forbes last year that Durov was under investigation for an alleged violent incident involving his youngest child in Paris in November 2021.

The most recent transparency report, is now available on a Telegram channel. Users are restricted to viewing reports pertinent to their home country. In the U.K, for example, 142 requests from authorities impacted 293 users. Elsewhere, certain users have been exchanging their respective country's figures. One user disclosed that Germany had issued 945 requests and obtained data on 2,237 users. Another shared that Spain made 213 requests, acquiring information on 518 users. Conversely, as per another user, Russia did not submit any requests.

An anonymous federal law enforcement investigator revealed that the recent disclosure of Telegram's cooperation with police in sharing data has prompted some users involved in creating child sexual abuse material to contemplate abandoning the platform. Previously convinced that Telegram offered a secure and encrypted haven from government scrutiny, these individuals are now realizing the potential risks and are exploring different strategies to evade detection.

Despite not responding to inquiries regarding his case, Durov continues to be at liberty. In anticipation of Christmas, Durov announced that Telegram had a successful year in 2025, marking its first time turning a profit in history, with total revenue exceeding $1 billion.