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|Logo=Telegram.png}}
|Logo=Telegram.png}}


[[wikipedia:Telegram_(software)|Telegram]] is an instant messaging (IM) app created in 2013 by Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov. The company was originally founded on the British Virgin Islands and has an LLC in Dubai since 2017.
[[wikipedia:Telegram_(software)|Telegram]] is an open source instant messaging (IM) app created in 2013 by Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov. The company was originally founded on the British Virgin Islands and has an LLC in Dubai since 2017.


==Consumer impact summary==
==Consumer impact summary==


===User Privacy===
===User Privacy===
Telegram does not sell user data to advertise to its clients, and only stores the data needed to moderate and keep its messaging client "secure and feature-rich" [https://telegram.org/privacy/eu?setln=en Telegram Privacy Policy] .
Telegram does not sell user data to advertise to its clients, and only stores the data needed to moderate and keep its messaging client "secure and feature-rich"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram Privacy Policy |url=https://telegram.org/privacy/eu?setln=en |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Telegram Privacy Policy}}</ref>.


The messages shared are NOT end to end encrypted, unless they are Secret Chats (not enabled by default) and these are not stored in their servers. Normal messages are not end to end encrypted, being instead encrypted from the user's device to the servers (client-server encryption). The latter are stored in Telegram's servers and can be shared with authorities, governments and/or accessed by anyone with potential access to the servers. This allows the client to be accessed in multiple platforms on the same account.
The messages shared are not end to end encrypted, unless they are [https://core.telegram.org/blackberry/secretchats Secret Chats] (not enabled by default) and these are not stored in their servers. Normal messages are not end to end encrypted, being instead encrypted from the user's device to the servers (client-server encryption). The latter are stored in Telegram's servers and can be shared with authorities, governments and/or accessed by anyone with potential access to the servers. This allows the messaging client to be accessed in multiple platforms on the same account.


This message client is cross-platform, and available in a vast amount of platforms, such as iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Linux, as well as being available as a web client and other custom clients.
This message client is cross-platform, and available in a vast amount of platforms, such as iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Linux, as well as being available as a web client and other custom clients.
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===Market Control===
===Market Control===
Telegram has a huge market in Russia, India and Brazil. In Russia, [https://www.levada.ru/en/2024/06/14/the-audience-of-internet-users-social-networks-messengers-and-vpn-services/ 51% of users use Telegram] and in India, [https://www.statista.com/global-consumer-survey/tool/10/gcs_deu_202402?missing=0&tgeditor=0&token=0&index=0&absolute=1&population=1&rows%5B0%5D=v0446_inte_brandsmessenger 48% of the population uses Telegram]. In the USA, only 9% uses this platform.
Telegram has a huge market in Russia, India and Brazil. In Russia, 51% of users use Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jun 2024 |title=The audience of Internet users, social networks, messengers and VPN services |url=https://www.levada.ru/en/2024/06/14/the-audience-of-internet-users-social-networks-messengers-and-vpn-services/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Levada-Center}}</ref> and in India, 48% of the population uses Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |title=Messenger usage by brand |url=https://www.statista.com/global-consumer-survey/tool/10/gcs_ind_202502?token=0&index=0&absolute=1&population=1&rows%5B0%5D=v0446_inte_brandsmessenger |website=Statista}}</ref>. In the USA, only 9% uses this platform.


In a global view, Telegram is the [https://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/ 4th most popular mobile messaging client as of 2024, with 950 million users], ahead of Snapchat and just behind Facebook Messenger.
In a global view, Telegram is the 4th most popular mobile messaging client as of 2024, with 950 million users<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ceci |first=Laura |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Most popular global mobile messenger apps as of February 2025, based on number of monthly active users |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Statista}}</ref>, ahead of [[Snapchat]] and just behind [[Facebook Messenger]].


Despite growing consistently in clients, [https://www.sganalytics.com/blog/is-telegram-banned-in-india/ Telegram now faces scrutiny in India and a potential ban], which would very negatively affect it's user numbers.
Despite growing consistently in clients, Telegram now faces scrutiny in India and a potential ban, which would very negatively affect its user numbers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sganalytics.com/blog/is-telegram-banned-in-india/|title=Telegram Ban Update - Is Telegram Banned in India?|date=2024-08-29|work=SG Analytics|access-date=2025-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513202454/https://www.sganalytics.com/blog/is-telegram-banned-in-india/|archive-date=2025-05-13|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Incidents==
==Incidents==
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This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].


===Sudden change of stance on selling data when pressured (2024)===
===Sudden change of stance on sharing data when pressured (2024)===
{{Main|https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/23/tech/telegram-ceo-durov-arrest-user-data-changes}}
Telegram was known for not selling information, and having a pretty tight fist on its clients data and information, even towards the authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Clare |date=23 Sep 2024 |title=After CEO’s arrest, Telegram says it will now turn some bad actors’ data over to law enforcement |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/23/tech/telegram-ceo-durov-arrest-user-data-changes |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref> After Pavel Durov's arrest in France in 2024, Telegram started sharing user data,  IP addresses, and phone numbers more freely to the authorities for criminal investigations, and to governments that requested such data.
Telegram was known for not selling information, and having a pretty tight fist on its clients data and information, even towards the authorities. After Pavel Durov's arrest in France in 2024, Telegram started sharing user data,  IP addresses, and phone numbers more freely to the authorities for criminal investigations, and to governments that requested such data.


==See also==
==See also==
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*[[Instagram]]
*[[Instagram]]
*[[WhatsApp]]
*[[WhatsApp]]
*[[wikipedia:Signal_(software)|Signal]]
*[[Signal]]


[[Category:Messaging clients]]
==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
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