Can Users Control the Data Shared with Third-Party Bots on Telegram?
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 8:27 am
Telegram’s platform supports a wide variety of third-party bots that provide users with added functionalities such as reminders, games, polls, news updates, and more. While these bots can greatly enhance the user experience, they also raise important privacy concerns: Can users control the data shared with these third-party bots? Understanding the extent of user control and the risks involved is essential for safe and informed use of Telegram bots.
What Are Telegram Bots and How Do They Work?
Telegram bots are automated accounts operated by telegram data developers or organizations. Users interact with these bots via chat interfaces, commands, or inline queries. Bots can perform tasks ranging from answering questions to managing group chats or processing payments.
Because bots are third-party services, they are not directly operated by Telegram, which means data shared with bots can be handled differently depending on the bot developer’s privacy policies and practices.
Data Shared with Bots
When you interact with a Telegram bot, the bot generally has access to the following information:
Messages and Commands You Send: Any text, commands, or media you send to the bot become accessible to the bot operator.
User Information: Bots receive your basic Telegram profile information, including your username, first name, and user ID.
Group Context: If a bot is added to a group chat, it may access messages and metadata in the group, depending on its permissions.
Importantly, unlike Telegram’s core chats, messages exchanged with bots are not end-to-end encrypted, as bots need to process data on their servers.
Can Users Control Data Shared with Bots?
Yes, users have some control over what data they share with bots, but there are limitations:
Choosing What to Share: Users decide what messages or commands to send to a bot. Sensitive information should not be shared unless users trust the bot developer and understand their privacy practices.
Bot Permissions: In groups, users and administrators can control a bot’s permissions, such as reading messages, sending messages, or managing users. Limiting permissions restricts what the bot can access.
Privacy Settings for Phone Numbers: Telegram allows users to control who can see their phone number, but bots do not automatically receive your phone number unless explicitly shared.
No Automatic Contact Sync: Unlike contact syncing with Telegram servers, bots do not automatically get access to your contact list or other personal data unless you explicitly provide it.
Limitations and Risks
No Centralized Control Panel: Telegram does not currently provide a centralized privacy dashboard specifically for bots, so users must manage each bot interaction individually.
Bot Developer Policies: Since bots are created by third parties, Telegram does not control how they store, use, or share data. Some bots may log data, sell it, or share it with other parties.
Risk of Phishing and Scams: Malicious bots can trick users into sharing sensitive information or clicking unsafe links.
Best Practices for Users
Only interact with trusted bots with transparent privacy policies.
Avoid sharing sensitive personal information via bots.
Regularly review and remove bots you no longer use.
Limit bot permissions in group chats to minimize data exposure.
Report suspicious bots to Telegram.
Conclusion
While Telegram users can control the data they share with third-party bots to a degree—mainly by choosing what to send and managing permissions—there is inherent risk because bots are operated by external developers with varying privacy standards. Users should exercise caution, understand that bot interactions are not end-to-end encrypted, and carefully manage permissions to protect their privacy when using Telegram bots.
What Are Telegram Bots and How Do They Work?
Telegram bots are automated accounts operated by telegram data developers or organizations. Users interact with these bots via chat interfaces, commands, or inline queries. Bots can perform tasks ranging from answering questions to managing group chats or processing payments.
Because bots are third-party services, they are not directly operated by Telegram, which means data shared with bots can be handled differently depending on the bot developer’s privacy policies and practices.
Data Shared with Bots
When you interact with a Telegram bot, the bot generally has access to the following information:
Messages and Commands You Send: Any text, commands, or media you send to the bot become accessible to the bot operator.
User Information: Bots receive your basic Telegram profile information, including your username, first name, and user ID.
Group Context: If a bot is added to a group chat, it may access messages and metadata in the group, depending on its permissions.
Importantly, unlike Telegram’s core chats, messages exchanged with bots are not end-to-end encrypted, as bots need to process data on their servers.
Can Users Control Data Shared with Bots?
Yes, users have some control over what data they share with bots, but there are limitations:
Choosing What to Share: Users decide what messages or commands to send to a bot. Sensitive information should not be shared unless users trust the bot developer and understand their privacy practices.
Bot Permissions: In groups, users and administrators can control a bot’s permissions, such as reading messages, sending messages, or managing users. Limiting permissions restricts what the bot can access.
Privacy Settings for Phone Numbers: Telegram allows users to control who can see their phone number, but bots do not automatically receive your phone number unless explicitly shared.
No Automatic Contact Sync: Unlike contact syncing with Telegram servers, bots do not automatically get access to your contact list or other personal data unless you explicitly provide it.
Limitations and Risks
No Centralized Control Panel: Telegram does not currently provide a centralized privacy dashboard specifically for bots, so users must manage each bot interaction individually.
Bot Developer Policies: Since bots are created by third parties, Telegram does not control how they store, use, or share data. Some bots may log data, sell it, or share it with other parties.
Risk of Phishing and Scams: Malicious bots can trick users into sharing sensitive information or clicking unsafe links.
Best Practices for Users
Only interact with trusted bots with transparent privacy policies.
Avoid sharing sensitive personal information via bots.
Regularly review and remove bots you no longer use.
Limit bot permissions in group chats to minimize data exposure.
Report suspicious bots to Telegram.
Conclusion
While Telegram users can control the data they share with third-party bots to a degree—mainly by choosing what to send and managing permissions—there is inherent risk because bots are operated by external developers with varying privacy standards. Users should exercise caution, understand that bot interactions are not end-to-end encrypted, and carefully manage permissions to protect their privacy when using Telegram bots.