Understanding Telegram Data Privacy in 2025

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In 2025, Telegram continues to be a prominent messaging application, appealing to users with its rich features and promise of privacy. However, a closer look at its data privacy landscape reveals a nuanced picture, especially in light of recent policy shifts and ongoing scrutiny.

One of Telegram's most frequently lauded features is its telegram data encryption. For "Secret Chats," Telegram employs end-to-end encryption (E2EE), meaning only the sender and recipient can read the messages. These chats are device-specific and do not sync across multiple devices, offering a higher level of privacy. They also include features like self-destructing messages and screenshot notifications, further enhancing their secure nature.

However, a crucial point of distinction is that E2EE is not enabled by default for all chats on Telegram. Regular one-on-one chats and all group chats utilize client-server/server-client encryption. While this encrypts messages in transit between your device and Telegram's servers, Telegram itself holds the encryption keys for these "cloud chats." This means that, in theory, Telegram could access the content of these messages if required. This contrasts with platforms like Signal, which offer E2EE by default for all communications, including group chats.

Telegram's stance on data requests from law enforcement has also seen a significant shift. Following legal pressures and the arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov, in late 2024, Telegram amended its privacy policy. The company now states it will provide user data, such as IP addresses and phone numbers, to relevant judicial authorities upon valid legal requests, particularly in cases involving criminal activities that violate Telegram's terms of service. This marks a notable departure from its previous claims of resisting such disclosures except in terrorism-related cases. Transparency reports detailing such instances are expected to be published quarterly.

In terms of data retention, Telegram does retain certain metadata. This can include IP addresses, device information, login records, and account registration data like phone numbers. While the exact duration for which this metadata is retained is not always explicitly defined, it is a point of consideration for privacy-conscious users. For instance, even after account deletion, some metadata may be kept for up to 12 months, and messages sent to others will remain visible on their devices unless manually deleted by the sender before account deletion.

To enhance personal privacy on Telegram in 2025, users are advised to:

Utilize Secret Chats for all sensitive one-on-one conversations.
Enable Two-Step Verification (2FA) to add an extra layer of security to their account.
Adjust privacy settings to control visibility of phone numbers, last seen status, and profile photos.
Be cautious of suspicious links and unknown messages to avoid phishing and other cyber threats.
While Telegram offers a robust set of features and strives to provide a secure messaging experience, users in 2025 should remain aware of the distinction between its default encryption and Secret Chats, as well as its evolving policy on data sharing with authorities.