How Telegram Differentiates Between Cloud Chat and Secret Chat Data Collection
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 8:19 am
Telegram, one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms, offers two distinct types of chats—Cloud Chats and Secret Chats—each with significantly different approaches to data storage and privacy. Understanding how Telegram differentiates between these two modes in terms of data collection is key for anyone concerned with privacy, data ownership, or regulatory compliance.
Cloud Chat: Server-Based Messaging
Cloud Chats are Telegram’s default messaging format. Messages telegram data in Cloud Chats are stored on Telegram’s servers and are synchronized across all devices linked to the user's account. This model enables users to access their conversations from multiple devices simultaneously and ensures that even if a user loses a device, the messages remain accessible.
From a data collection standpoint, Cloud Chats are not end-to-end encrypted. Instead, they are encrypted server-client, meaning the data is encrypted between your device and Telegram’s servers, but Telegram technically has access to the decrypted content. This allows Telegram to implement features such as multi-device access, quick message syncing, and backup recovery.
Telegram claims that despite having access to Cloud Chat data, it does not monetize it through ads or sell user data. However, the fact remains that messages are stored on centralized servers, and metadata (such as contact lists, timestamps, and device information) is also retained. This makes Cloud Chats more vulnerable to data requests from governments or potential breaches, although Telegram has stated it resists such requests unless legally compelled.
Secret Chat: Device-to-Device Encryption
In contrast, Secret Chats are designed for users who prioritize privacy. These chats are end-to-end encrypted, meaning that only the sender and the recipient can read the messages. The encryption keys never leave the users’ devices, and Telegram cannot access the content—even if compelled by a court order.
Secret Chats are not stored on Telegram’s cloud servers. Instead, messages remain on the devices involved in the conversation. Once deleted, either manually or through the self-destruct timer feature, the messages are permanently erased with no way to retrieve them.
From a data collection perspective, Telegram collects almost nothing from Secret Chats. The platform doesn’t store the messages, doesn’t access encryption keys, and limits metadata retention. Additionally, Secret Chats do not support features such as forwarding, screenshots (on some platforms), or multi-device access—design limitations that further protect user privacy.
Conclusion
The distinction between Cloud Chat and Secret Chat on Telegram represents two fundamentally different philosophies in data collection. Cloud Chats prioritize convenience and accessibility at the cost of some privacy, while Secret Chats offer maximal privacy by eliminating centralized data storage. By offering both, Telegram provides users the flexibility to choose how their data is managed. For privacy-conscious users, Secret Chats are the go-to solution, while those needing cross-device convenience may opt for Cloud Chats—knowing they trade off some level of data control.
Cloud Chat: Server-Based Messaging
Cloud Chats are Telegram’s default messaging format. Messages telegram data in Cloud Chats are stored on Telegram’s servers and are synchronized across all devices linked to the user's account. This model enables users to access their conversations from multiple devices simultaneously and ensures that even if a user loses a device, the messages remain accessible.
From a data collection standpoint, Cloud Chats are not end-to-end encrypted. Instead, they are encrypted server-client, meaning the data is encrypted between your device and Telegram’s servers, but Telegram technically has access to the decrypted content. This allows Telegram to implement features such as multi-device access, quick message syncing, and backup recovery.
Telegram claims that despite having access to Cloud Chat data, it does not monetize it through ads or sell user data. However, the fact remains that messages are stored on centralized servers, and metadata (such as contact lists, timestamps, and device information) is also retained. This makes Cloud Chats more vulnerable to data requests from governments or potential breaches, although Telegram has stated it resists such requests unless legally compelled.
Secret Chat: Device-to-Device Encryption
In contrast, Secret Chats are designed for users who prioritize privacy. These chats are end-to-end encrypted, meaning that only the sender and the recipient can read the messages. The encryption keys never leave the users’ devices, and Telegram cannot access the content—even if compelled by a court order.
Secret Chats are not stored on Telegram’s cloud servers. Instead, messages remain on the devices involved in the conversation. Once deleted, either manually or through the self-destruct timer feature, the messages are permanently erased with no way to retrieve them.
From a data collection perspective, Telegram collects almost nothing from Secret Chats. The platform doesn’t store the messages, doesn’t access encryption keys, and limits metadata retention. Additionally, Secret Chats do not support features such as forwarding, screenshots (on some platforms), or multi-device access—design limitations that further protect user privacy.
Conclusion
The distinction between Cloud Chat and Secret Chat on Telegram represents two fundamentally different philosophies in data collection. Cloud Chats prioritize convenience and accessibility at the cost of some privacy, while Secret Chats offer maximal privacy by eliminating centralized data storage. By offering both, Telegram provides users the flexibility to choose how their data is managed. For privacy-conscious users, Secret Chats are the go-to solution, while those needing cross-device convenience may opt for Cloud Chats—knowing they trade off some level of data control.