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On Sunday, August 25, Telegram’s founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested on an outstanding warrant when his private jet landed in France. The news of Durov’s arrest traveled fast, creating ripple waves across the tech industry, social media, and messaging app community.
As the media continue to report on the developing story and the allegations against him and Telegram, Techopedia moves to understand how Telegram users are being impacted, what their concerns are, and what the future might hold.
Key Takeaways
- The arrest of Telegram’s CEO intensifies concerns about the platform’s privacy and security measures.
- Telegram doesn’t enable end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default, making it less secure than other platforms.
- Similar to other social media platforms, there is always a risk of data monetization with Telegram’s vast user data, which has the potential to be used for commercial purposes.
- The ongoing legal proceedings against Telegram’s CEO create uncertainty about the platform’s future direction and policies, and it is wise to consider your options.
- Show Full Guide
Users’ Security Concerns as Telegram Scandal Develops
With more than 900 million users, the questions around Telegram’s safety are more valid today than ever.
Are my chats on Telegram safe now? Should I delete my Telegram account and consider switching to another messaging app? What will happen with my data on Telegram now that the app is part of a high-profile case linked to drug trafficking, terrorism, money laundering, and misinformation?
These are just some of the questions that Telegram users have, and Techopedia talked to experts to get the best possible answers.
Yashin Manraj, CEO at Pvotal, a company that helps enterprises develop advanced cloud-native platforms, spoke with Techopedia about what Telegram users should expect in the near future.
Manraj explained that Durov and the Telegram developer community have developed multiple contingency plans to prevent any leakage or access of users’ data over the past few months.
But like Linton, Manraj said that it is difficult to predict whether the Telegram team will be able to maintain the level of noncompliance and isolation that Durov maintained while spearheading the company.
With Telegram losing to Signal in terms of security and privacy. Manraj also reminded users what this means.
“There is a possibility that users’ data are obtained by the Government or third-parties with or without the consent or compliance of Telegram.
“Telegram does not enable End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) by default, and less than 3% of users use all of Telegram’s Secure Chat services, which are only available for one-to-one messages.”
Manraj said that as long as users understand that Telegram is closer to a social media network than a secure method of communication and act accordingly, they will have less to be concerned about.
Predicting the Future of Telegram is Tricky Business
Alexander Linton, Director at OPTF, a non-profit software developer organization working to create secure and privacy-protecting solutions, told Techopedia that users must be patient and “wait” to see how the story unfolds.
“We do not know what is going to happen with Pavel Durov just yet, so it’s impossible to predict how this will impact Telegram — the company or the product.”
However, Linton also warned what not to do in this unique case.
“No doubt some people will take this opportunity to spread fear and misinformation — there might be false reports about the story.
“Make sure you verify news you read about Pavel or Telegram, and take what you read with a grain of salt.”
Linton, Director at OPTF, noted that Telegram maintains two different versions of the app, one with certain channels and content removed (to comply with Google and Apple content policies) and channels which they distribute themselves.
Regarding whether Telegram will leverage user profiles in a similar way to Facebook or Instagram for advertising and revenue, Linton said that concern has always been a possibility when dealing with centralized, unencrypted platforms.
“Telegram has a lot of information about its users, and by using the service, you entrust your personal information to the company. This is of particular risk when the service is operated by a for-profit company.”
Linton said that users who are concerned about Telegram’s integrity should consider using another messaging app, such as Session or Signal, that minimizes metadata collection and implements end-to-end encryption by default.
Lint added that people are finding this story distressing for a number of reasons but called for users to become aware of who they are handing their data over to.
“Your personal privacy shouldn’t rely on one company — or worse, one person. The best time to make the change is today.”
Will Telegram Monetize My Data?
Manrja said that Telegram has access to all non-E2EE messages of all its users along with a lot of metadata, more than what Meta (Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp), X, or Signal ever had access to.
“This positions them in a unique position to monetize their user base in a more effective manner with fewer roadblocks, and with data aggregation techniques to combat the encryption the other platform offers by default.”
Other experts, like Manraj said that Telegram risks have always been inherent to the platform due to its features (end-to-end encryption not enabled by default, and the level of security of user’s data significantly lower than other similar platforms).
“We don’t think that much would change on Telegram’s policies. In fact, any changes might actually be beneficial for the users.”
Manrja added that the charges levied against Durov, the manner in which the prosecutor will frame the case, and Telegram’s responsibility for its users’ actions could have some unintended consequences for the social media and messaging sector.
How these platforms operate, how applications are developed, and “an easier path to disenfranchise users with the precedent set forth here” are changes that the industry could see in the near future.
‘Telegram’s Security Claims Have Never Been Verified’
While Telegram claims to be one of the safest messaging apps on the market, many disagree with the veracity of the claims. Manrja told Techopedia that there is no fundamental research that proves the platform is, in fact, secure.
“The self-proclaims of Telegram’s independence have yet to be verified or audited, and their implementation choices do not provide significant trust and transparency in how they are leveraging this data currently.”
The Bottom Line
What’s the verdict? According to Manraj, those who have been using Telegram as a social avenue to share legal activities will see no changes.
However, Manraj said that we can expect to see more crackdowns on groups sharing copyrighted material, illicit pornographic content, and drug or illegal marketplaces in the near future.
While it is far too early to predict Telegram’s future, along with that of its users, the platform has often been mired in controversies connected to cybercriminal activities, misinformation, and unproven claims of privacy in several ways.
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix on the horizon. Users will have to wait it out and see how the charges against Telegram’s founder play out. Those who do feel unprotected or unsafe should consider switching to another messaging app or enabling the highest security standards available on Telegram.
One thing is certain, user panic is the last thing anyone needs. As the news of Telegram’s scandal case continues to unfold, we recommend everyone keep an eye out for any updates and take necessary actions to protect their identity and data.
