Telegram has high adoption rates in several countries with poor track records for freedom of expression. The German government’s attempts to fine Telegram over a lack of moderation for illegal content ran into a dead-end at an empty Telegram office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He fled Russia in 2014 after refusing to cooperate with demands from the Kremlin after that country’s annexation of Crimea. In fact, the 37-year-old Pavel Durov, with an estimated net worth of $15 billion, has taken steps demonstrating his commitment to freedom from government intrusion. Telegram’s security model, warns the Electronic Frontier Foundation, “requires users to place a great deal of trust in Telegram’s ability to protect user data.” “So far, this has never happened.” Others are more cautious. “If Telegram receives a court order that confirms you’re a terror suspect, we may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities,” the company’s privacy policy reads. In keeping with this philosophy, the company says it does not share user data with governments unless compelled. This is evident on its FAQ page, where it states: “If criticizing the government is illegal in some country, Telegram won’t be a part of such politically motivated censorship.” Telegram also distinguishes itself from other social or messaging platforms with its vigorous privacy protection and free speech policies. Its appeal: a reputation for privacy in communications and commerce. Telegram 101įounded in 2013 by Pavel and Nikolai Durov, the two Russian brothers behind Facebook-lookalike VKontakte, Telegram boasted more than 550 million users worldwide as of January 2022. The event featured media disinformation expert Jane Lytvynenko, a research fellow at the Center, who discussed best practices in using Telegram for investigative reporting. It’s also useful to track protests and other social movements in authoritarian countries, like Russia, where the app still functions.įor this primer on Telegram, GIJN has relied heavily on Telegram 101 for Journalists, a recent webinar by The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. But even before that, the app had grown in popularity among those seeking anonymous communications free from government censorship, and among the neo-Nazis, Islamic State supporters, and drug traffickers who found fertile ground for their activities on the platform.ĭespite - or because of - this somewhat dubious reputation, Telegram can also be an invaluable research tool, allowing journalists to mine information and investigate groups of people whose content is otherwise banned or limited on other social networks (often for violating terms of use or hate speech laws). As one of the few social media platforms still available inside Russia and a key conduit for reporting from war-torn Ukraine, Telegram’s global profile has greatly increased in recent months.
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