How Does Telegram Handle Data Security for Voice and Video Calls?
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 8:31 am
Telegram has become a popular messaging app not only for text chats but also for its voice and video calling features. Given the sensitive nature of calls, many users want to know: How does Telegram handle data security for voice and video calls? Understanding the encryption methods and security protocols Telegram employs for these calls is key to assessing how private your conversations are when using the app.
Encryption Technology Behind Telegram Calls
Telegram uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for its telegram data voice and video calls. This means that calls are encrypted on the sender’s device and can only be decrypted by the receiver’s device. Not even Telegram’s servers have the keys to decrypt the call data, ensuring that no third party — including Telegram itself — can listen to or intercept your calls.
This approach is a crucial security feature that distinguishes Telegram calls from some other messaging apps that only encrypt data in transit but keep decryption keys on their servers.
How Does Telegram Implement Encryption?
Telegram employs the MTProto protocol, which is its own custom-designed encryption protocol. For voice and video calls, Telegram uses a combination of AES-256 encryption, RSA 2048, and Diffie-Hellman key exchange to establish secure communication channels between users.
AES-256 is a highly secure symmetric encryption standard used to encrypt the actual voice and video data streams.
RSA 2048 is used for exchanging keys securely.
Diffie-Hellman key exchange allows both users to generate a shared secret key over an insecure channel, which then encrypts the call.
Together, these technologies ensure that the voice or video stream remains confidential and protected against interception or eavesdropping.
Verification of Call Security
To reassure users that their calls are secure, Telegram offers a visual key verification method during calls. Users can compare an emoji sequence or a visual code displayed on both ends of the call. If the sequences match, it confirms the call is end-to-end encrypted and that there’s no man-in-the-middle attack.
This simple but effective verification step empowers users to actively verify their call’s security rather than relying solely on the app’s claims.
Data Handling and Metadata
While Telegram protects the content of calls with end-to-end encryption, it does collect some metadata such as call duration, timestamps, and participants involved. This metadata is necessary for functionality like call history and quality improvements but is not linked to the call content itself.
Telegram stores minimal metadata and claims it does not use this data for advertising or sell it to third parties. However, as with many platforms, metadata remains a point of privacy consideration since it can reveal communication patterns.
Security Compared to Other Platforms
Compared to many mainstream apps that encrypt data only between the user and the server, Telegram’s end-to-end encryption for calls is a stronger privacy safeguard. Notably, Telegram’s default chats and group messages are not end-to-end encrypted (except for Secret Chats), but voice and video calls are always secured with E2EE, offering users a high level of privacy for live conversations.
Conclusion
Telegram handles data security for voice and video calls by implementing robust end-to-end encryption through its MTProto protocol. By combining AES-256, RSA 2048, and Diffie-Hellman key exchange, it ensures calls remain private and protected from interception, even by Telegram itself. Users can verify the encryption through emoji or visual code comparison, adding an extra layer of confidence.
While metadata related to calls is collected for functionality, the actual call content stays secure, making Telegram a strong choice for privacy-conscious users who want secure voice and video communication.
Encryption Technology Behind Telegram Calls
Telegram uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for its telegram data voice and video calls. This means that calls are encrypted on the sender’s device and can only be decrypted by the receiver’s device. Not even Telegram’s servers have the keys to decrypt the call data, ensuring that no third party — including Telegram itself — can listen to or intercept your calls.
This approach is a crucial security feature that distinguishes Telegram calls from some other messaging apps that only encrypt data in transit but keep decryption keys on their servers.
How Does Telegram Implement Encryption?
Telegram employs the MTProto protocol, which is its own custom-designed encryption protocol. For voice and video calls, Telegram uses a combination of AES-256 encryption, RSA 2048, and Diffie-Hellman key exchange to establish secure communication channels between users.
AES-256 is a highly secure symmetric encryption standard used to encrypt the actual voice and video data streams.
RSA 2048 is used for exchanging keys securely.
Diffie-Hellman key exchange allows both users to generate a shared secret key over an insecure channel, which then encrypts the call.
Together, these technologies ensure that the voice or video stream remains confidential and protected against interception or eavesdropping.
Verification of Call Security
To reassure users that their calls are secure, Telegram offers a visual key verification method during calls. Users can compare an emoji sequence or a visual code displayed on both ends of the call. If the sequences match, it confirms the call is end-to-end encrypted and that there’s no man-in-the-middle attack.
This simple but effective verification step empowers users to actively verify their call’s security rather than relying solely on the app’s claims.
Data Handling and Metadata
While Telegram protects the content of calls with end-to-end encryption, it does collect some metadata such as call duration, timestamps, and participants involved. This metadata is necessary for functionality like call history and quality improvements but is not linked to the call content itself.
Telegram stores minimal metadata and claims it does not use this data for advertising or sell it to third parties. However, as with many platforms, metadata remains a point of privacy consideration since it can reveal communication patterns.
Security Compared to Other Platforms
Compared to many mainstream apps that encrypt data only between the user and the server, Telegram’s end-to-end encryption for calls is a stronger privacy safeguard. Notably, Telegram’s default chats and group messages are not end-to-end encrypted (except for Secret Chats), but voice and video calls are always secured with E2EE, offering users a high level of privacy for live conversations.
Conclusion
Telegram handles data security for voice and video calls by implementing robust end-to-end encryption through its MTProto protocol. By combining AES-256, RSA 2048, and Diffie-Hellman key exchange, it ensures calls remain private and protected from interception, even by Telegram itself. Users can verify the encryption through emoji or visual code comparison, adding an extra layer of confidence.
While metadata related to calls is collected for functionality, the actual call content stays secure, making Telegram a strong choice for privacy-conscious users who want secure voice and video communication.