Pavel Durov, Telegram’s creator, announced a variety of security changes, including removing the “People Nearby” function, which allowed users to discover others based on their location. This decision was made in response to concerns about privacy and potential exploitation of the functionality by hostile actors. Instead, we will launch a new “businesses nearby” feature to help consumers find local businesses without endangering their personal privacy.
Durov also claimed that media uploads to the platform’s “Telegraph” blog had been removed due to a tiny number of users exploiting it for criminal reasons. While just 0.001% of users engaged in such actions, the threat to the larger community forced the move.
Durov underscored Telegram’s commitment to enhancing its moderation standards, with the goal of turning past criticism into appreciation. These upgrades come at a time when Telegram is under scrutiny, notably in France, for its handling of hazardous content.
