The Policy Shift
Telegram, the social media titan co-founded by the embattled Russian billionaire Pavel Durov, recently made waves by updating its policy on private chat moderation.
Recent Changes
What stirred the pot? Telegram decided to retract a statement from its FAQ page affirming immunity from moderation requests in private chats, according to The Verge.
Durov’s Response
In his first public statement following his arrest, CEO Durov acknowledged the challenges stemming from Telegram’s rapid surge to 950 million users, leading to misuse by malefactors. Durov pledged to bolster content moderation on the platform, already underway to salvage the situation.
Updated Protocol
The company’s FAQ page underwent tweaks to reflect these changes. Previously, Telegram assured all chats were private and free from moderation requests. Now, users are guided on reporting illicit content to moderators.
However, the retracted statement now resides under a different question on the FAQ page.
Unveiling the Why
The motive behind Telegram’s alterations remains shrouded. Queries to the company by Benzinga for clarification elicited no immediate response.
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Significance of the Shift
This policy rejig unfolds against the mounting scrutiny of Telegram’s protocols. With France already on its heels, South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into Telegram concerning alleged dissemination of sexually explicit deepfake content.
Additionally, worries loom over Telegram’s financial robustness, potentially clouding its slated $30 billion IPO. Despite a massive user base exceeding 900 million, Telegram posted a $108 million deficit last year, despite revenues hitting $342 million.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially generated with AI assistance and subjected to review by Benzinga editors before publication.
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