09.09.2024 19:22:00
Дата публикации
The Telegram messenger has made changes to its moderation policy following the arrest of its founder Pavel Durov in France. Amid accusations of distributing illegal content, the platform has revised its approach to handling complaints about illegal materials.
Recently, the official Telegram FAQ page no longer mentions that the service does not process requests regarding private chats and groups. Now users can report illegal content to moderators in all chats using the “Report” button.
After his arrest, Pavel Durov spoke publicly about the situation for the first time. He noted that he was surprised by the charges brought against him, since Telegram has a representative office in the EU, which responds to requests from regulators. In addition, the French authorities could easily contact him through the consulate in Dubai, as they did previously as part of the fight against terrorism.
Durov also emphasized that he considers bringing personal charges against him to be the wrong approach. He expressed the opinion that if the authorities have complaints about the service, then the investigation should concern the company itself, and not its CEO:
"No innovator will ever create new tools if he knows that he can be personally held accountable for their abuse."
In addition to changes in the moderation policy, Telegram decided to remove the "People Nearby" function. According to Durov, less than 0.1% of all platform users used it, but this function caused problems with bots and scammers. Therefore, the decision was made to remove it.
In addition, Telegram limited the ability to upload new media files to the Telegraph service, which, as it became known, was used by anonymous persons for other purposes. These measures are aimed at improving security and reducing the risks of abuse of the platform.
The platform is facing serious accusations not only in France, but also in other countries. For example, in South Korea, Telegram is under investigation for aiding the distribution of pornographic deepfakes in private groups. This was another reason for changing the moderation policy.
Durov also said that the sharp increase in the number of Telegram users to 950 million led to “growing pains.” This made it easier for criminals to abuse the platform, but the messenger continues to actively work on solving these issues.
“We have already started this process internally and will soon share details about the progress.”
French authorities charged Durov with six counts, including complicity in the administration of an online platform for illegal transactions and concealment of crimes.
Durov was released on bail of €5 million, but he is prohibited from leaving France and must appear in police custody twice a week.
It is also worth noting that the Paris prosecutor’s office announced the possibility of a long investigation into Durov’s case, which could last several months. After its completion, it will be decided whether to send the case to court or drop it.
Recently, the official Telegram FAQ page no longer mentions that the service does not process requests regarding private chats and groups. Now users can report illegal content to moderators in all chats using the “Report” button.
After his arrest, Pavel Durov spoke publicly about the situation for the first time. He noted that he was surprised by the charges brought against him, since Telegram has a representative office in the EU, which responds to requests from regulators. In addition, the French authorities could easily contact him through the consulate in Dubai, as they did previously as part of the fight against terrorism.
Durov also emphasized that he considers bringing personal charges against him to be the wrong approach. He expressed the opinion that if the authorities have complaints about the service, then the investigation should concern the company itself, and not its CEO:
"No innovator will ever create new tools if he knows that he can be personally held accountable for their abuse."
In addition to changes in the moderation policy, Telegram decided to remove the "People Nearby" function. According to Durov, less than 0.1% of all platform users used it, but this function caused problems with bots and scammers. Therefore, the decision was made to remove it.
In addition, Telegram limited the ability to upload new media files to the Telegraph service, which, as it became known, was used by anonymous persons for other purposes. These measures are aimed at improving security and reducing the risks of abuse of the platform.
The platform is facing serious accusations not only in France, but also in other countries. For example, in South Korea, Telegram is under investigation for aiding the distribution of pornographic deepfakes in private groups. This was another reason for changing the moderation policy.
Durov also said that the sharp increase in the number of Telegram users to 950 million led to “growing pains.” This made it easier for criminals to abuse the platform, but the messenger continues to actively work on solving these issues.
“We have already started this process internally and will soon share details about the progress.”
French authorities charged Durov with six counts, including complicity in the administration of an online platform for illegal transactions and concealment of crimes.
Durov was released on bail of €5 million, but he is prohibited from leaving France and must appear in police custody twice a week.
It is also worth noting that the Paris prosecutor’s office announced the possibility of a long investigation into Durov’s case, which could last several months. After its completion, it will be decided whether to send the case to court or drop it.
All of these events became part of a larger discussion about how crypto messengers and encrypted data systems are regulated. Durov's arrest has raised concerns in the tech sector, as the legal norms used against him could be applied to other platforms.
Durov assured Telegram users that the messenger will continue to work on improving security and maintaining privacy, despite pressure from the authorities.
(the text is translated automatically)
Durov assured Telegram users that the messenger will continue to work on improving security and maintaining privacy, despite pressure from the authorities.
