Telegram Hands Over Personal User Data to German Authorities

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Operators of the messenger app Telegram transferred personal information of its users to the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), deviating from the company’s earlier claims of shielding such data from governments.

The personal data is related to users who were suspects of terrorism and child abuse crimes, according to Spiegel. In the case of other crimes, it is still difficult for German authorities to get data from Telegram.

The move comes across as a softening of the company’s stance on private data. German investigators, for a long time, have never received any positive responses from Telegram whenever they requested the company to reveal the identities of people behind online criminal content.

The data handover runs counter to Telegram’s claim on its official website that “to this day, we have disclosed 0 bytes of user data to third parties, including governments.”

According to the company, cloud chat data is stored in multiple data centers around the world that are controlled by several legal entities across various jurisdictions.

Moreover, decryption keys are split into multiple parts and never stored in the same place as the data they are supposed to protect. As a result, only if several court orders from different jurisdictions appear will Telegram be forced to give up data.

“Thanks to this structure, we can ensure that no single government or block of like-minded countries can intrude on people’s privacy and freedom of expression,” the company claims.

However, its recent German handover dents this narrative, raising the possibility that Telegram can be forced by other governments as well to submit private data.

Back in 2018, Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced a new policy according to which a court order can compel the company to release IP addresses and phone numbers of its users. In its latest transparency report updated every six months, no data transfers to authorities were mentioned.

By Naveen Athrappully

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

America is facing what could be described as “disorganized troubles,” born of a feeling of powerlessness.

The US is seeing a pattern of consistent, politically motivated lone-wolf attacks, evident in events like the murder of Charlie Kirk on a campus in Utah.

A Bullet Is No Argument

Charlie Kirk’s sharp intellect and joyful debate style dismantled challengers’ arguments, making him a target for those opposed to truth and goodness.

24 Years Later and NEW 9/11 Information is Still Coming Out

New info from journalist Catherine Herridge reveals the 9/11 plot traces back to 1998, following the first failed terrorist mission in 1993.

The Reported Russian Drone Incursions Into Poland Might Have Been Due To NATO Jamming

Poland says it shot down Russian drones entering its airspace amid NATO drills, sparking debate over provocation, botched recon, or NATO jamming.

Charlie Kirk Assassin Spotted Before Shooting!

Charlie Kirk incident mirrors Trump attempt: shooter spotted on rooftop beforehand, echoing July attack’s circumstances.

FBI Releases Images of ‘Person of Interest’ in Charlie Kirk Assassination

Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot during an event in Utah on Sept. 10, and he has died.

Chris Pratt, Jason Aldean Among Celebrities Paying Tribute to Charlie Kirk

Actor Chris Pratt and singer Jason Aldean join many celebrities posting online tributes mourning the death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Police Respond to Bomb Threat at DNC Headquarters

Law enforcement officers rushed to the DNC headquarters after learning of a potential bomb threat, a U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson said in an email.

Conservative Influencers Mourn the Loss of Charlie Kirk

One day after the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, tributes and condolences are pouring in from his colleagues on social media.

Trump Signs Memo Targeting Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising

President Trump signed a memo to ensure drug ads give fair, balanced, and complete information to protect and inform American consumers.

Trump Runs out of Patience With China, Sharpens His Words

President Donald Trump’s recent remarks targeting China and its allies mark a noticeable shift in tone.

Trump Signs Order Renaming Department of Defense as Department of War

President Donald Trump on Sept. 5 signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War.

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Countries That Unlawfully Detain Americans

President Trump signed an EO on targeting the unlawful detention of American citizens around the world and to facilitate the release of hostages.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central