Tue Sep 24 03:35:00 UTC 2024: ## Telegram Cracks Down on Criminal Activity After Founder’s Arrest

**PARIS -** Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has announced a series of measures to combat criminal activity on the messaging platform, following his arrest in France last month. This comes after weeks of criticism over the platform’s perceived laxity in addressing illegal content.

Durov, who was charged with failing to curb extremist and terrorist content, stated that Telegram’s search function had been “abused” by those violating its terms of service to sell illicit goods. He revealed that staff had been using artificial intelligence to remove problematic content from the platform’s search results.

In a move that signals a shift in Telegram’s stance on cooperating with authorities, Durov announced updates to the platform’s terms of service and privacy policy. These updates clarify that Telegram will now share user information, including IP addresses and phone numbers, with law enforcement agencies in response to “valid legal requests.”

“We won’t let bad actors jeopardize the integrity of our platform for almost a billion users,” Durov stated.

This announcement comes amidst growing concerns about Telegram’s handling of illegal content. Durov’s arrest in August sparked debate about the platform’s role in facilitating criminal activity. In response, Telegram has pledged to enhance moderation efforts, including removing “problematic content” and strengthening collaboration with law enforcement.

Durov, known for his enigmatic personality and his wealth estimated at $15.5 billion, is now facing a balancing act between protecting user privacy and addressing concerns about criminal activity on his platform.

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