Legal Justifications for Telegram’s Data Collection Practices

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Telegram, a cloud-based messaging app known for its emphasis on privacy and security, collects a limited set of user data compared to many other social platforms. Nevertheless, like all digital services, Telegram provides legal justifications for the data it does collect. These justifications are framed within the context of applicable data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, and are outlined in its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Telegram’s core legal basis for collecting data is "legitimate telegram data interest", a principle allowed under GDPR. Telegram argues that it needs to process certain user data to provide and improve its services, maintain service stability and security, and prevent abuse. This includes data such as user ID numbers, basic metadata like IP addresses and device types, and the user’s contact list (with permission). The app also stores messages on the cloud for synchronization across devices, but only for cloud chats—not for secret chats, which are end-to-end encrypted and stored only on user devices.

The performance of a contract is another major legal basis Telegram cites. When a user signs up and agrees to Telegram’s Terms of Service, they enter into a contractual relationship with the platform. To fulfill its side of the agreement—such as delivering messages, syncing data across devices, or storing media—Telegram must process certain user data.

User consent also plays a key role, particularly for optional features. For example, syncing contacts is not mandatory and requires the user’s explicit permission. Once granted, Telegram uploads the phone numbers from the user's address book to notify them when contacts join Telegram and to improve user suggestions. Importantly, Telegram allows users to revoke this consent and delete synced contact data at any time via the app settings.

To comply with legal obligations, Telegram may retain and provide limited user data in response to valid legal requests. However, Telegram is notably resistant to sharing data with governments. It states that to date, it has shared data in response to court orders only in cases involving confirmed terrorism-related investigations, and even then, only basic metadata—not message content. This aligns with its public image as a defender of user privacy, although it opens the platform to criticism about how it handles other forms of abuse or illegal content.

In summary, Telegram justifies its limited data collection on the legal grounds of legitimate interest, contractual necessity, user consent, and legal compliance. Unlike many platforms, Telegram’s minimalistic data philosophy limits the scope of information it collects, but it still acknowledges that some data must be processed to operate a global, cloud-based messaging service effectively. By maintaining transparency through its privacy policy and giving users tools to control their data, Telegram aims to balance legal obligations with its commitment to privacy and user trust.