Does Telegram Share User Data with Third Parties? Exploring the Privacy Policies
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 8:30 am
Telegram is widely known for its emphasis on user privacy and security. However, with growing concerns about digital surveillance and data breaches, users are increasingly questioning whether Telegram truly upholds its privacy promises. Specifically, many wonder: Does Telegram share user data with third parties? The short answer is yes—but only under very specific and limited circumstances. To understand this better, let’s explore Telegram’s data-sharing practices, privacy policies, and the context in which user data may be disclosed.
Telegram’s Privacy Philosophy
Telegram was founded with the mission of providing a telegram data secure and private messaging platform. It offers end-to-end encryption in its Secret Chats, cloud-based chat storage with client-server/server-client encryption, and several privacy features that give users control over who can see their last seen status, profile picture, and more. Telegram claims not to sell ads or user data and asserts that its business model doesn’t depend on data monetization.
When Does Telegram Share User Data?
According to Telegram’s official Privacy Policy, the platform may disclose user data under the following circumstances:
To Comply with Legal Requests: Telegram states that it may disclose user IP addresses and phone numbers only in cases where a legitimate court order from a jurisdiction where Telegram is legally based (currently Dubai, UAE, with company registration in the British Virgin Islands) is presented. However, this applies only to confirmed terrorist investigations, and Telegram claims that it has not yet shared data under this clause.
For Security Reasons: Telegram may also retain metadata like IP addresses and device information for up to 12 months for security and anti-abuse purposes. While this data is not normally shared with third parties, it could be disclosed in response to a legal investigation related to spam, abuse, or threats to public safety.
Third-Party Services: Telegram uses some third-party services for analytics, especially when it comes to its website and other non-messaging parts of the platform. While these services may collect anonymized data, Telegram claims that no personally identifiable user data is shared with these entities in a way that would compromise privacy.
How Safe Is Your Data on Telegram?
While Telegram promotes itself as a privacy-respecting app, it's important to note that not all chats on Telegram are end-to-end encrypted. Only Secret Chats have this level of security. Regular cloud chats are encrypted between your device and Telegram’s servers, meaning Telegram technically has access to them. This distinction is crucial for users who are concerned about privacy.
Moreover, Telegram’s willingness to share limited user data in cases of terrorism investigations indicates that the platform isn’t fully immune to government pressure. While this is far more restrained than some other platforms, it’s still a point worth considering.
Conclusion
Telegram does share user data with third parties, but only under very restricted and legally-bound circumstances, such as terrorism investigations backed by court orders. It does not sell data for advertising or analytics purposes in the same way as many social media giants. While Telegram offers stronger privacy protections than many other messaging platforms, it’s not entirely devoid of data sharing. Users seeking maximum privacy should use Secret Chats and remain informed about the app’s data handling policies.
Telegram’s Privacy Philosophy
Telegram was founded with the mission of providing a telegram data secure and private messaging platform. It offers end-to-end encryption in its Secret Chats, cloud-based chat storage with client-server/server-client encryption, and several privacy features that give users control over who can see their last seen status, profile picture, and more. Telegram claims not to sell ads or user data and asserts that its business model doesn’t depend on data monetization.
When Does Telegram Share User Data?
According to Telegram’s official Privacy Policy, the platform may disclose user data under the following circumstances:
To Comply with Legal Requests: Telegram states that it may disclose user IP addresses and phone numbers only in cases where a legitimate court order from a jurisdiction where Telegram is legally based (currently Dubai, UAE, with company registration in the British Virgin Islands) is presented. However, this applies only to confirmed terrorist investigations, and Telegram claims that it has not yet shared data under this clause.
For Security Reasons: Telegram may also retain metadata like IP addresses and device information for up to 12 months for security and anti-abuse purposes. While this data is not normally shared with third parties, it could be disclosed in response to a legal investigation related to spam, abuse, or threats to public safety.
Third-Party Services: Telegram uses some third-party services for analytics, especially when it comes to its website and other non-messaging parts of the platform. While these services may collect anonymized data, Telegram claims that no personally identifiable user data is shared with these entities in a way that would compromise privacy.
How Safe Is Your Data on Telegram?
While Telegram promotes itself as a privacy-respecting app, it's important to note that not all chats on Telegram are end-to-end encrypted. Only Secret Chats have this level of security. Regular cloud chats are encrypted between your device and Telegram’s servers, meaning Telegram technically has access to them. This distinction is crucial for users who are concerned about privacy.
Moreover, Telegram’s willingness to share limited user data in cases of terrorism investigations indicates that the platform isn’t fully immune to government pressure. While this is far more restrained than some other platforms, it’s still a point worth considering.
Conclusion
Telegram does share user data with third parties, but only under very restricted and legally-bound circumstances, such as terrorism investigations backed by court orders. It does not sell data for advertising or analytics purposes in the same way as many social media giants. While Telegram offers stronger privacy protections than many other messaging platforms, it’s not entirely devoid of data sharing. Users seeking maximum privacy should use Secret Chats and remain informed about the app’s data handling policies.