Telegram CEO Pavel Durov admits to disclosing user data to law enforcement since 2018, raising privacy concerns in the crypto community.
Telegram has recently come under fire after CEO Pavel Durov revealed that the platform has been disclosing user data, including IP addresses and phone numbers, to law enforcement since 2018. This admission has raised significant concerns within the crypto community regarding user privacy and the implications for decentralized communication.
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, confirmed that the company has been cooperating with law enforcement by disclosing user information since 2018. This revelation comes shortly after Durov's arrest for allegedly facilitating criminal activities on the platform. Following his release, he initially stated that Telegram would intensify its efforts to combat illegal content but later clarified that the disclosure of user data was a long-standing policy.
“Whenever we received a properly formed legal request via relevant communication lines, we would verify it and disclose the IP addresses/phone numbers of dangerous criminals. This process had been in place long before last week,” Durov stated.
Despite this clarification, many in the crypto space are alarmed by the implications of such a policy. Deddy Lavid, CEO of the Web3 security firm Cyvers, expressed his concerns in an exclusive interview, highlighting the potential risks to user privacy.
The admission has sparked a wave of concern among crypto security experts. Deddy Lavid pointed out that Telegram's practice of disclosing user IP addresses poses a significant threat to the privacy and decentralization that the Web3 community values. Many users share wallet addresses over Telegram channels, and if these addresses are linked to IPs, it could expose their identities.
“[This policy] could allow centralized platforms to connect users’ personal information to their blockchain activity. To mitigate this, Web3 projects probably will consider shifting towards decentralized communication tools that prioritize data privacy and protect users from such vulnerabilities,” Lavid added.
In the hours following Durov’s announcement, Toncoin (TON) experienced a slight drop in valuation, although the overall impact on the cryptocurrency market remains to be seen. The price of TON has fluctuated in the past, often in response to Durov's legal troubles, and this incident may lead to further volatility.
While the immediate market reaction has been muted, experts warn that a more significant price drop could occur as the implications of Durov's admission sink in. The crypto community is closely monitoring the situation, as the potential for increased scrutiny on Telegram could lead to a shift in user behavior and preferences.
Pavel Durov's admission regarding Telegram's disclosure of user data has ignited serious concerns about privacy within the crypto community. As users become increasingly aware of the risks associated with centralized platforms, there may be a growing demand for decentralized communication tools that prioritize user privacy. The future of Toncoin and other cryptocurrencies may hinge on how these privacy concerns are addressed in the coming weeks and months.
