Telegram Updates User Agreement to Include Reporting Function for Private and Group Chats

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was recently arrested in France, with the Paris prosecutor accusing him of multiple crimes. Currently, Durov awaits trial in France.

On Thursday night, Telegram updated its user agreement, seemingly to comply with law enforcement in France and other countries. The new version of the agreement has removed statements regarding the privacy of private and group chats.

Previously, the agreement stated: "All Telegram chats and group chats are private amongst their participants. We do not process any requests related to them."

This clause meant private chats and group chats were not subject to reporting and review features, meaning only group admins could manage messages, and Telegram itself would not monitor user content.

The deletion of "We do not process any requests related to them" comes as Telegram introduces a reporting feature, allowing users to report specific messages in private and group chats. These reported messages will then trigger a review process.

It's currently unclear whether Telegram will use automated processes or manual review for these reports, but reported content violating rules is sure to be removed.

Adding reporting and review features may help resolve disputes between Telegram and some law enforcement agencies. For example, South Korean police have been cracking down on deepfake pornography involving Korean women spread through Telegram.

Typically, Telegram does not share user information with law enforcement agencies. However, with the introduction of the reporting feature, Telegram can now more swiftly delete blatantly illegal content, reducing its spread and minimizing harm to victims.