Cutting corners: Telegram is now actively collaborating with U.S. agencies to provide IP addresses, phone numbers, and other critical information for user identification. According to data revealed in a recent report, the instant messaging platform fulfilled 900 data requests from Washington, impacting a total of 2,253 individual users on the network.

Once known as a safe haven for cybercriminals and white supremacists, Telegram appears to be transitioning into a more law-abiding platform. Recent data unveiled by 404 Media confirm this abrupt shift, with U.S. authorities accounting for the majority of user identification requests.

The number of fulfilled data requests surged during the last quarter of 2024, as revealed by Telegram’s transparency bot. Between January 1 and September 30, the company responded to only 14 requests concerning 108 users. However, the majority of requests came between October and December, and Telegram appeared eager to comply.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested by French authorities this summer and was only released after paying a €5 million fine and pledging to cooperate with French authorities. Shortly after the incident, Telegram revised its policies and terms of service, stating that it would promptly disclose users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities when required.

The messaging platform’s latest quarterly transparency report seems to confirm the effectiveness of these policy changes.

Telegram now has a dedicated team of moderators tasked with addressing crime-related issues on the platform. This team utilizes AI tools to identify illegal content and illicit behavior, while regular users are encouraged to report any unlawful activity they encounter on the service.

Following Durov’s arrest, many notorious criminals hosting private chats on Telegram announced they would leave the platform for good. As the recent Europol investigation into “Ghost” illustrates, no messaging platform is private enough for managing organized crime syndicates or other illegal operations.

Durov recently emphasized that the overwhelming majority of Telegram users are not involved in criminal activities. However, with billions of users worldwide, even a very small fraction (e.g., 0.001%) engaged in cybercrime or law violations represents a significant problem. According to a recent analysis, drug dealers, terrorist organizations, and other notorious groups have shown a particular preference for Telegram chats.