Telegram will cooperate with authorities to combat criminal activities

Durov also announced changes to Telegram search. A team of moderators scoured the platform and removed any content deemed “problematic.”

The changes, Durov wrote, are intended to “deter criminals.”

“Telegram search is designed to find friends and discover news, not to promote illegal goods,” he wrote.

The changes are an important step for Telegram, which is known for its lack of cooperation with authorities. The platform, known for its end-to-end encrypted messages, has also faced criticism for years over a lack of content moderation.

In 2015, for example, Telegram came under fire for hosting channels linked to ISIS. The platform was used by the far-right to spread conspiracy theories, misogyny, and racism. Because Telegram has a large user base in Eastern Europe, it was also at the center of information—and misinformation—surrounding the war in Ukraine.

In August, Durov was arrested and charged by French authorities on charges of using Telegram for criminal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering.

Durov is still on bail in France and is required to report to police twice a week, the Associated Press reported in August.

In a statement to Business Insider in August, Telegram representatives said Durov had “nothing to hide.” They said it was “absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform.”

He faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros, AP reported, citing the Paris public prosecutor’s office.

The high-profile arrest also drew the ire of X owner Elon Musk, who expressed his support for Durov and criticized the arrest as an attack on free speech.

Telegram did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside of regular business hours.