In a significant shift, Telegram is introducing new moderation policies for private chats following the arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov, in France. Durov was taken into custody nearly two weeks ago for allegedly permitting criminal activity on the messaging platform. The company has quietly revised its FAQ page, removing prior assurances that private chats were fully exempt from moderation.
CEO makes first public statement
I’m still trying to understand what happened in France. But we hear the concerns. I made it my personal goal to prevent abusers of Telegram’s platform from interfering with the future of our 950+ million users.
— Pavel Durov (@durov) September 5, 2024
My full post below. https://t.co/cDvRSodjst
Durov broke his silence earlier today, issuing his first public statement since the arrest. His message signalled a notable shift in Telegram’s approach to content moderation, focussing on tightening control over illicit activities on the platform.
“Telegram’s sudden user growth to 950 million brought about some challenges, making it easier for criminals to misuse our platform,” Durov explained in a statement released on Thursday. “This is why I’ve made it my personal mission to improve our content moderation significantly. We’ve already begun working on it internally, and I will share more updates on our progress soon.”
This statement marks a departure from the company’s earlier stance, where Durov had claimed that he had “nothing to hide” regarding Telegram’s operations. It now appears that the platform is ready to take a more active role in monitoring and controlling the content its users share.
Changes already taking place
These changes are not just promises; some are already in effect. The company’s FAQ page, which previously assured users that private chats were untouchable, has been updated within the past 24 hours. A key section titled “There’s illegal content on Telegram. How do I take it down? ”Originally stated, “All Telegram chats and group chats are private amongst their participants. We do not process any requests related to them.”
However, as of September 5, those sentences have been removed and replaced with a new message: “All Telegram apps have ‘Report’ buttons that let you flag illegal content for our moderators—in just a few taps.” Detailed instructions on how to report messages now follow this statement.
This shift in policy could mark a turning point in how Telegram handles the darker side of its rapid growth. The platform has long been a topic of debate regarding its potential misuse for illegal activities.
The charges against Durov
Durov’s arrest was prompted by French authorities, who have brought preliminary charges against the Telegram CEO. According to reports from the Associated Press, the platform has been accused of facilitating the distribution of child sexual abuse material and enabling drug trafficking. Authorities also claim that the company had previously refused to cooperate with their investigations.
As Telegram undergoes these changes, users may see a more stringent approach to content moderation, which could alter how they interact on the platform. Whether these shifts will affect Telegram’s user base or lead to broader changes in its operations remains to be seen.
