Telegram Data and User Consent: What You Should Know

[fatimahislam]

In the digital age, understanding how our personal data is handled by the services we use is crucial. Telegram, a popular messaging app with a strong reputation for privacy, operates under a specific data policy that users should be aware of, particularly concerning user consent. While Telegram emphasizes security and privacy, its approach to data collection and sharing, even with its stated principles, is not entirely absolute.

Telegram's Core Privacy Principles

Telegram's privacy policy outlines two fundamental principles regarding user data:

No Ads Based on User Data: Telegram states it does not telegram data use your data to show you ads. While public channels may feature sponsored messages, these are not targeted based on individual user data.
Minimal Data Storage: Telegram claims to only store the data it needs to function as a secure and feature-rich messaging service. This includes messages in "Cloud Chats" (which are stored on their servers for multi-device access) and basic account information.
What Data Does Telegram Collect?

To provide its services, Telegram necessarily collects some user data:

Basic Account Data: This includes your mobile number, which is used as a unique identifier, and basic profile information such as your chosen screen name, profile picture, and "about" information. Telegram does not require your real name.
Contacts: With your permission, Telegram can sync your phone contacts to help you find and connect with friends already on the platform. You have the option to stop syncing contacts or delete them from Telegram's servers.
Cloud Chats: Messages, photos, videos, and documents from your regular "Cloud Chats" are stored encrypted on Telegram's servers to enable access from multiple devices. The encryption keys for this data are stored in separate data centers.
Metadata: To improve security, prevent spam, and address abuse, Telegram may collect metadata such as your IP address, devices and Telegram apps used, and history of username changes. This metadata can be kept for a maximum of 12 months.
Optional Data: Users can optionally add their birthday or, for Telegram Business subscribers, a fixed location and opening hours to their profile. Email addresses might also be collected for password recovery or login codes.
User Consent and Data Sharing

Telegram's approach to user consent is primarily outlined in its Privacy Policy, which users implicitly agree to by using the service. For certain functionalities, like contact syncing, explicit permission is requested.

The critical point of user consent and data sharing on Telegram often arises in discussions about legal requests:

Secret Chats: For "Secret Chats," which are end-to-end encrypted and not stored on Telegram's servers, Telegram cannot access the content and therefore cannot share it with authorities, even with a legal order.
Cloud Chats and Metadata: For regular "Cloud Chats," while encrypted in transit and at rest, Telegram theoretically holds the encryption keys. Recently, Telegram has clarified its stance on sharing user data with authorities. While historically resistant, particularly to government demands, Telegram has stated that it may disclose IP addresses and phone numbers of users suspected of criminal activities in response to valid legal requests, such as a court order. This is a significant shift and means that for regular chats, the content might still be inaccessible, but identifying metadata could be shared if legal circumstances warrant.
Public Data: Any data users post in public channels or groups is inherently public and accessible to everyone. While this data is encrypted in storage and transit, its public nature means it can be collected and analyzed by anyone.
What You Should Know:

Choose Wisely: For conversations requiring the highest level of privacy, always use "Secret Chats," as they offer true end-to-end encryption.
Metadata is Collected: Be aware that Telegram collects some metadata (like IP address and device info), which can be retained for up to 12 months, even if message content is protected.
Legal Compliance: Telegram has a stated policy of complying with valid legal requests for data related to criminal activity, potentially disclosing IP addresses and phone numbers.
Review Privacy Settings: Regularly check and adjust your Telegram privacy settings to control who can see your phone number, last seen status, profile photo, and who can add you to groups.
Self-Destructing Accounts: Telegram offers a self-destruct feature for inactive accounts, where your account and all associated data will be deleted after a specified period of inactivity.
Understanding Telegram's nuanced approach to data and consent empowers users to make informed decisions about their communication habits and the level of privacy they maintain on the platform.