Telegram, a popular messaging platform, will now provide user IP addresses and phone numbers to law enforcement agencies with valid legal requests, such as search warrants. This policy shift, announced by CEO Pavel Durov, aims to curb criminal activity on the platform.

Durov explained the move in a recent Telegram post, stating, “While 99.999% of Telegram users have nothing to do with crime, the 0.001% involved in illicit activities create a bad image for the entire platform, putting the interests of our almost billion users at risk.” The update to Telegram’s privacy policy represents a notable reversal for Durov, who has long championed privacy and free speech.

This change comes after Durov, the Russian-born co-founder of Telegram, was detained in France last month. He faces charges, including facilitating criminal activities on the platform, such as child exploitation and drug trafficking. While Durov denies the charges, his arrest has ignited debates about Telegram’s role in hosting illegal content and the balance between privacy and security.

Critics have pointed out that Telegram has struggled with moderating content like misinformation, child pornography, and extremist material. Unlike WhatsApp, which caps group sizes at 1,000 members, Telegram allows groups to reach up to 200,000 users, making content moderation more challenging.

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Telegram’s announcement has also raised concerns among activists and political dissidents, especially in regions like Russia and the Middle East, where the app has been a tool for free expression. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, noted that many are now questioning whether Telegram will cooperate with repressive regimes.

Though Telegram has previously only shared information related to terrorism, this latest policy expansion indicates a broader scope of cooperation with law enforcement. Cybersecurity experts, however, remain skeptical. While Telegram has improved its content moderation efforts, including using artificial intelligence to hide harmful material from search results, critics argue that these measures might not fully satisfy the legal demands of European countries, particularly when it comes to addressing serious offenses like child abuse material.

Daphne Keller, of Stanford University’s Center for Internet and Society, warns that Telegram’s commitment may fall short of what authorities expect, especially in terms of transparency and content removal. The future of Telegram’s stance on privacy and free speech, especially in politically sensitive regions, remains uncertain.