90 Total
28 High severity
52 Medium severity
10 Low severity

Key Facts

What may Telegram use automated algorithms to analyze?
Telegram may use automated algorithms to analyze messages in cloud chats to stop spam and phishing.
What does analyzing messages stop?
Telegram may use automated algorithms to analyze messages in cloud chats to stop spam and phishing.
What does Telegram store on its servers from cloud chats?
Telegram stores messages, photos, videos, and documents from cloud chats on its servers to enable access from any device at any time.
What does storing on servers enable?
Telegram stores messages, photos, videos, and documents from cloud chats on its servers to enable access from any device at any time.
Upon receipt of what may Telegram disclose a user's IP address and phone number?
Telegram may disclose a user's IP address and phone number upon receipt of a valid order from the relevant judicial authorities confirming the user is a suspect in a case involving criminal activities.
When may Telegram disclose a user's IP address and phone number?
Telegram may disclose a user's IP address and phone number upon receipt of a valid order from the relevant judicial authorities confirming the user is a suspect in a case involving criminal activities.
When will Telegram delete an account along with all messages, media, contacts, and every other piece of stored data?
Telegram will delete an account along with all messages, media, contacts, and every other piece of stored data if the user does not come online for at least 18 months.
What sends some of the user's data to third-party bot developers?
Telegram states that performing certain actions with third-party bots sends some of the user's data to the respective third-party bot developers.
What legal ground does Telegram process users' personal data on?
Telegram processes users' personal data on the legal ground that such processing is necessary to further Telegram's legitimate interests, including providing effective and innovative services.
What does Telegram's processing further?
Telegram processes users' personal data on the legal ground that such processing is necessary to further Telegram's legitimate interests, including providing effective and innovative services.
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Summary

Telegram's Privacy Policy explains what data Telegram collects about you, how it stores your messages, and when it shares your information. Your regular cloud chat messages are stored on Telegram's servers and can be algorithmically scanned, but secret chats stay only on your device and are never stored server-side. Your account and all its data will be permanently deleted if you do not log in for at least 18 months, and Telegram does not use your data to show you ads.

Analysis

This Privacy Policy establishes Telegram's data collection, processing, storage, and sharing practices across its services. Telegram collects mandatory account data (mobile number, basic profile information) and metadata (IP address, device identifiers, username change history) for security and spam prevention. Cloud chat content—messages, photos, videos, and documents—is stored on Telegram's servers and subject to automated algorithmic analysis for spam and phishing detection, while secret chats are stored exclusively on users' devices with no server-side logs retained. Personal data is processed on the legal ground of legitimate interests, accounts and all associated data are deleted after 18 months of inactivity, and user identifying information (IP address and phone number) may be disclosed to judicial authorities upon receipt of a valid court order confirming criminal suspicion. Third-party data sharing occurs through bot interactions and, optionally, through the translation feature, which may route message text to Google or Microsoft.

What this means for you

For an ordinary user, this document means that your cloud chat messages, media, and metadata are stored on Telegram's servers and may be automatically analyzed for spam and phishing, while secret chats leave no server record at all. Your screen name, profile pictures, and username are always publicly visible with no option to restrict them, and creating an account requires providing a real mobile number. Your IP address and phone number can be disclosed to authorities if a valid judicial order establishes you as a criminal suspect. If you use Telegram's translation feature, the text of translated messages may be sent to Google or Microsoft. One concrete action you can take: if you wish to prevent server-side storage of your messages, you should use secret chats rather than regular cloud chats.

Institutional Analysis
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Which mapped governance frameworks each document engages, tied to the specific provisions that engage them.

2 important changes detected

3 versions captured · Last updated: June 2026

What changed Telegram updated a navigation element in their Privacy Policy on June 28, 2026. The previous version linked to 'Twitter Home' while the updated version links to 'Follow on X Home'. This is a minor update reflecting a platform name or branding change in the navigation UI, with no operational impact on privacy practices or user data handling.
Why this matters This change updates a navigation link in the Privacy Policy document header only. It does not modify any privacy practices, data collection authorizations, retention periods, or user rights. The updated link reflects an external social media platform branding change and has no operational impact on how Telegram handles user data or operates its privacy practices.
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What changed Telegram's Privacy Policy was updated on May 19, 2026 with minor navigation changes. The word 'Moderation' was replaced with 'Safety' in the top navigation menu and footer links of the policy document. This appears to be a terminology update in the policy's navigation structure rather than a substantive change to privacy practices or data handling.
Why this matters This change updates navigation terminology within Telegram's Privacy Policy document. The word 'Moderation' in the top menu and footer navigation has been replaced with 'Safety' on May 19, 2026. This is a navigational and terminological change that does not alter the substantive content of the privacy policy or the data practices it describes.
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Featured, High severity

Complete Provision Index

Every distinct legal provision identified in this document. Featured provisions appear above with analysis.

90 provisions
12 featured
15 clause types
28 high severity
AI / Automated Decision-Making 1 1 high
Content Moderation 1
General Contract Terms 1
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Archival ProvenanceSource & Archival Record
Last Captured June 28, 2026 00:24 UTC
Capture Method Automated scheduled archival capture
Document ID CA-D-000174
Version ID CA-V-004271
SHA-256 65490290e7e91f42131f735fb9619fce8d880833dea22bbfcb0f220a026ccc8a
✓ Snapshot stored ✓ Text extracted ✓ Change verified ✓ Hash verified

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