- Toncoin surged 6% despite Telegram facing regulatory pressure to share user data, as the platform cracks down on illegal activities.
- Telegram has updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to clarify that it will now share the IP addresses and contact details of users found violating its rules.
Telegram Open Network’s native token TON recently witnessed a surprising surge in its market value given the ongoing regulatory pressures facing Telegram. Per crypto markets insights, TON’s price surged by a noble 6%.
Over the past few months, Telegram together with its CEO, Pavel Durov have been the subject of extensive media coverage amid legal disputes. Recent events have seen the social media giant come under scrutiny from authorities due to the misuse of its Search feature.
Unfortunately, some users have exceeded the bounds of propriety and engage in illegal activities, including the sale of illegal goods. To deal with this, Pavel Durov took to his channel announcing significant updates to the platform’s moderation policies.
Durov highlighted in his Telegram channel that the app’s search function enables users to discover public channels and bots more effortlessly than competing messaging platforms. Additionally, Durov stated that those users who do not adhere to Telegram’s policies will be reported to their respective authorities in response to valid legal requests.
To comply with regulators and avoid further escalation, Telegram has updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to clarify that it will now share the IP addresses and contact details of users found violating its rules.
We have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, ensuring they are consistent across the world. We’ve made it clear that the IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate our rules can be disclosed to relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests.
Durov’s post concluded with a reaffirmation of Telegram’s mission, which is that Telegram Search is “meant for finding friends and discovering news, not for promoting illegal goods.”
However, this decision has been met with mixed reactions from the community as Telegram has been widely known for its stance on privacy and free speech. Many users and privacy advocates have shared their thoughts, suggesting that by sharing users’ data with the regulators, the social media platform is compromising its core values.
This year, another popular social media platform faced regulatory pressure. As we earlier reported, Elon Musk’s X platform was temporarily blocked in the country due to a dispute with the Brazilian Supreme Court over content moderation and the removal of disinformation. Regulators demanded similar concessions from Musk, but instead, X opted to settle the issue with a fine of $3.3 million.
Despite the regulatory pressure, TON has showcased robust resilience. Yesterday, TON registered a 6.37% increase in the last 24 hours and 5.17% in the past week. At the time of press, the digital asset is changing wallets with $5.59, marking a 0.90% decline in the last 24 hours.
