Telegram shares data from criminals with the Public Prosecution Service for the first time

NOS News•today, 12:53

Telegram has shared criminal data with the Public Prosecution Service for the first time. The Public Prosecution Service confirms this to the NOS.

“For a long time, we have experienced reluctance on Telegram’s part to share information,” a spokesperson said. The Public Prosecution Service is therefore “very happy” that the messaging service now does this. “We would like to continue this.”

Data have been released in twenty criminal cases related to child pornography and arms and drug trafficking in recent weeks. “It is very helpful in criminal investigations if user data becomes visible,” the spokesperson said.

A few weeks ago, Telegram removed Dutch banga lists from the app after months of insistence. This happened after the founder of Telegram was arrested in France. The country believes that the app offers too much space to criminals.

France holds founder Pavel Durov partly responsible for criminal practices that take place on his platform, partly because the platform does not cooperate with authorities. Durov has paid a bail of 5 million and can now await the trial in freedom.

The Public Prosecution Service does not yet want to speak of a breakthrough. “It looks like Telegram’s policy is changing. But we still have to see if it’s really a breakthrough or if it’s just incidents.”