Telegram and Payment Data: A Focus on Third-Party Processing

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Aproach to payments is distinctly different from many other messaging platforms, with a strong emphasis on user privacy by not directly processing or storing sensitive payment information. Instead, Telegram acts as an intermediary, facilitating transactions through integration with third-party payment providers. This fundamental design choice shapes what data, if any, Telegram itself collects on user interactions with payment features.

When you use Telegram's payment features, particularly through bots, Telegram's role is largely that of a "messenger." Here's how it generally works and what data Telegram does not collect:

No Credit Card Details: Telegram explicitly states telegram data that it does not store your credit card details for purchases made via its bot payment platform. This sensitive information is handled solely by the third-party payment providers you choose for your transaction (e.g., Stripe, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or other local providers).
No Commission: Telegram emphasizes that it takes no commission from these payments and does not profit from these transactions. This further underscores its position as a facilitator, not a direct payment processor.
What data might Telegram collect related to payment interactions?

While Telegram maintains a "0 bytes" stance on sensitive payment data, it may still collect some non-sensitive information necessary for the functionality of the payment feature and for its overall service. This could include:

Transaction Status Notifications: Telegram acts as a conduit for information between the user, the bot developer (merchant), and the chosen payment system. This means Telegram might receive notifications about the status of a transaction (e.g., "payment successful," "payment failed," "shipping details entered"). This is necessary for the bot to process your order and for you to receive what you've paid for.
Shipping Details (if provided by user): If a transaction involves physical goods, users may be prompted to enter shipping information (address, name, etc.). This data is passed to the bot developer (merchant) so they can fulfill the order. While Telegram doesn't store this for its own use, it facilitates the transfer of this data.
Bot Interaction Data: Telegram will naturally have data on your interactions with bots, including those offering payment features. This would encompass when you interact with the bot, the commands you use, and the invoices generated by the bot. This is part of general bot interaction data, not specifically payment sensitive data.
User IDs and Related Metadata for Routing: For Telegram to correctly route payment requests and responses between you, the bot, and the payment provider, it would inherently utilize your user ID and potentially some basic metadata related to the transaction's initiation. This is about establishing the connection, not collecting payment content.
Telegram Premium and Subscriptions:

For Telegram Premium, which is a direct subscription service, the payment process might involve more direct interaction with app stores (Apple App Store, Google Play) or Telegram's own @PremiumBot. Even here, Telegram emphasizes that payment details are typically handled by these third parties. If you subscribe via @PremiumBot, which aims to offer a discounted price by avoiding app store fees, the payment processing is still outsourced. Telegram's terms for Business subscriptions also state that they use "third-party payment processors to securely facilitate purchases."

In summary: Telegram's core privacy principle regarding payments is to offload the sensitive financial data handling to specialized third-party payment providers. This significantly limits the amount of direct payment data Telegram itself collects, focusing instead on facilitating the communication necessary for the transaction to occur and for the merchant to fulfill the order. While some interaction data around payment features will be collected (like transaction status and bot interactions), it's crucial to understand that credit card numbers and similar highly sensitive financial details are not stored by Telegram.