Telegram is a website and app that you can use to do voice calls and send messages, photos, videos, and files of any type. It works on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, tablets, smartphones, and computers such as PC, Mac, and Linux. You can create groups for up to 200,000 people and channels to broadcast to unlimited audiences.
Personal data collected
Telegram collects information from you when you sign up, such as mobile number and basic account data (including profile name, picture, and about you information). Your username, screen name, and profile pictures are always public. A screen name is not required to be your real name. If you decide to enable 2-step verification for your account or store documents via the Telegram passport feature, you can opt in to set up a password recovery email. They also store your contacts with your permission.
Telegram collects your device information as well, including your IP address, devices and Telegram apps you have used, history of username changes, and more. If you decide to make a purchase for services, your information such as payment information and billing address goes to the payment provider’s server and Telegram never collects it. They do not access or store your payment information. They can also store your shipping information if you consent to it. You can delete this information at any time. If you decide to delete any saved payment information or shipping address, Telegram will delete it from all providers and ask the payment providers to also delete it.
Personal data usage
Telegram uses data to:
- Prevent fraud and spam.
- Ban anyone who has been reported as a spammer.
- Limit your access to contacting people temporarily or permanently depending on the severity of the spamming.
- Store your information that is needed to function their website as a secure cloud service.
- Send you to their payment processors to process purchases.
- Comply with legal requirements.
Cookies and similar tech
Telegram uses cookies and other similar technologies to provide and customize their services. If you decide to disable cookies, you will not be able to login to Telegram Web.
Telegram account
If you do not login for 6 months, your account will be deleted automatically by Telegram. You can change this in your settings, so they will either delete it earlier or later due to inactivity. Everything posted in public will be accessible to everyone. Any disputes about purchases made are not handled by Telegram, because they do not handle the payment information. The payment providers and banks handle any disputes that may arise.
Data shared with Telegram
How to protect your privacy
You can protect your privacy on Telegram by:
- Deactivating your account on a non-mobile browser.
- Deleting or stop syncing contacts by going to Settings>Privacy & Security>Data Settings.
- Disabling cookies from your browser.
- Turning off and deleting the information from the feature that shows you who you have messaged recently by going to Settings>Privacy & Security>Data Settings and disabling “Suggest Frequent Contacts”.
- Clearing payment data by going to Telegram Settings>Privacy & Security>Data Settings and selecting Clear Payment & Shipping Info.
- Controlling how your data is used by going to Settings>Privacy & Security>Data Settings using their mobile apps.
How to contact Telegram about your privacy
To contact Telegram, login to their website or app and contact the GDPR bot. Use the /contact command to leave a request which will be answered as soon as possible.