Telegram Faces Global Outage Amid Controversial Privacy Policy Changes
Telegram, the popular messaging platform, has suffered its second major outage in just three days, affecting tens of thousands of users worldwide. The latest disruption was reported on October 3, 2024, around 13:00 Moscow time, with users experiencing issues such as long loading times for media, failed message deliveries, and complete inaccessibility to the app. According to the Center for Monitoring and Control of the Public Communications Network (CMU CCCN), the peak of the outage saw approximately 30,000 complaints logged on DownDetector.su, particularly from regions including Tver, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow.
This incident marks the second significant failure for Telegram within a week, following a similar outage on October 1, where users faced delays and loading issues. Although the service has returned to normal functionality, the frequency of these outages raises concerns about the platform's stability and reliability.
Privacy Policy Updates Raise Eyebrows
In addition to technical difficulties, Telegram has been in the spotlight for its recent changes to privacy policies. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, announced updates that allow for the disclosure of user data, including phone numbers and IP addresses, upon requests from law enforcement agencies. This controversial decision aims to combat criminal activities but has sparked debates about user privacy and data security.
Durov emphasized that the platform is designed for positive communication and news sharing, not for illegal activities. However, the new terms, which include a specific clause allowing for data disclosure in criminal cases, have left many users concerned about their privacy. Furthermore, the removal of the
business nearby
feature has also raised questions about the platform's direction and user trust.
In light of these developments, Telegram users are left to navigate the balance between security and privacy as the platform grapples with technical challenges and evolving policies.
