Telegram
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2013 |
| Product Type | Software, Messaging Client |
| In Production | Yes |
| Official Website | https://telegram.org/ |
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.
Consumer impact summary
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" Telegram Privacy Policy , although most messages are stored in their servers unless you use "Secret Chats" (not on by default) and they keep user phone numbers and IP addresses.
Business Model
Telegram makes its money, fundamentally, from a subscription service called Telegram Premium. This an optional service that will allow you to have enjoy extra features that are pay walled behind this subscription, such as larger uploads, faster download speed and some premium stickers and emojis. No privacy related features are locked behind this subscription.
Market Control
Telegram has a huge market in Russia, India and Brazil. In Russia, 51% of users use Telegram and in India, 48% of the population uses Telegram. In the USA, only 9% uses this platform.
In a global view, Telegram is the 4th most popular mobile messaging client as of 2024, with 950 million users, ahead of Snapchat and just behind Facebook Messenger.
Despite growing consistently in clients, Telegram now faces scrutiny in India and a potential ban, which would very negatively affect it's user numbers.
Incidents
This messaging client has multiple incidents of selling data, and history of being a hub for bad actors, a gateway to share CSAM, and having drug trafficking and terrorism on its platform.
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Telegram category.
Sudden change of stance on selling data when pressured (2024)
- Main article: [[1]]
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.