Telegram allows users to set self-destruct timers for messages

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Telegram collects minimal metadata, including: The user’s phone number (required to sign up) Basic account information such as username, profile picture, and device info IP address and device data for session management Contact lists (if the user grants permission) Messages and media in cloud chats (non-Secret Chats), stored in encrypted form Telegram does not store: Messages in Secret Chats, which use client-to-client end-to-end encryption Message content in deleted chats Most user metadata beyond session and device information Any advertising IDs or behavioral analytics for monetization Moreover, hide their phone numbers, use aliases, and operate multiple accounts on a single device. All of these features reduce the possibility of data exposure.

Telegram’s Encryption and Data Access One of the cornerstones of Telegram’s privacy model is its encryption protocol. Telegram uses its own proprietary encryption protocol, MTProto, which has usa telegram data been a subject of both praise and skepticism in the cryptographic community. While Secret Chats are end-to-end encrypted and stored only on user devices, cloud chats (standard messages, groups, and channels) are encrypted client-to-server. This allows for synchronization across devices, but it also means that technically, Telegram could access the content stored on its servers. However, Telegram asserts that no single employee or server can access complete user data. Messages are stored in distributed data centers in multiple jurisdictions and encrypted with keys split across those regions. This layered approach is intended to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, either from internal staff or external authorities.

Telegram’s Stance on Government Requests Telegram has taken a firm and highly public stance on protecting user privacy from government overreach. In its own words, Telegram refuses to “disclose data to third parties, including governments.” The only exception Telegram claims to honor is when it receives a valid court order for terrorism-related content. However, even in these exceptional cases, Telegram says that it has never shared meaningful data with any government. According to Telegram’s Transparency Report, as of the last publicly released update, Telegram has disclosed zero bytes of user data to any third party—including any government authority.