Telegram allows users to report illegal content in private chats

Telegram has revised its policy, allowing users to flag "illegal content" in private chats. These reports will be reviewed by moderators, according to the latest update in the "Frequently Asked Questions" section.

Users can now report violations even in private chats, whereas this feature was previously unavailable — private chats were not subject to moderation. This could affect Telegram’s reputation, which has been associated with providing a haven for illegal activities.

Reasons for the update

The update came shortly after the arrest of Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, in France at the end of August. Reportedly, the arrest was part of an investigation into how the messaging platform was allegedly facilitating illegal activities, according to French authorities.

In his first public comments, the CEO acknowledged that the rapid growth of the platform made it vulnerable to abuse by criminals. However, he denied claims that Telegram is a "lawless haven" for illegal activities and stated that the platform is actively removing harmful content.