Telegram used to be the wild west of messaging apps-no rules, no moderators, just end-to-end encryption and anonymous channels. For newsrooms, it was a goldmine for leaks, eyewitness footage, and unfiltered sources. But everything changed in 2025. After Pavel Durov’s arrest in Paris last August, Telegram didn’t just tweak its policies-it rebuilt them from the ground up. And if your newsroom still treats Telegram like it did in 2023, you’re missing the mark. Badly.
Telegram’s New Rules Aren’t Optional Anymore
Before 2024, Telegram removed about 5 million harmful posts a day. In 2025, that number jumped to 15 million. That’s not a typo. The platform now uses AI tools like Sprinto’s compliance engine to scan, flag, and remove content at scale. And it’s not just bots-Telegram now responds to law enforcement requests in under 24 hours, up from weeks or months of silence. South Korea’s media commission called it a night-and-day shift.
Newsrooms can no longer assume Telegram is a safe space for unverified rumors. Channels that once hosted war footage, protest plans, or whistleblower tips are now being shut down within hours of being reported. The platform’s transparency bot shows a 327% increase in compliance with government data requests between late 2024 and mid-2025. That means if you’re sourcing from a Telegram channel, you’re no longer just dealing with an anonymous user-you’re dealing with someone whose identity may now be traceable.
Verification Isn’t What It Used to Be
Remember the blue checkmark? That’s gone. Telegram replaced it with a decentralized verification system where trusted organizations-like universities, government agencies, or NGOs-can verify accounts. If a journalist from a verified university channel posts a document, it carries a badge. If a protest group in Kyiv gets verified by a human rights watchdog, their posts get a label too.
But here’s the catch: Telegram doesn’t decide who gets verified. It lets third parties do it. That means a channel verified by a pro-government group in India might look just as legitimate as one verified by a press freedom org in Canada. Journalists at Reuters say 62% find this system helpful for confirming sources. But 78% say it’s made verification harder because now you have to track who verified whom, not just whether a channel is official.
And if you’re relying on Telegram for breaking news, you’re running a risk. A May 2025 study from Taylor & Francis found that 78% of misinformation during the Israel-Hamas conflict started on Telegram. Why? Because even with new moderation, the platform still allows mass broadcasting. One channel can reach millions before anyone can fact-check it.
What Newsrooms Can’t Ignore: The Legal Minefield
Telegram’s policies now vary by country. The EU’s Digital Services Act forces it to audit 87% of channels based in Europe for hate speech and illegal content. India requires local grievance officers. Iran demands equal treatment for its government as France’s. And Russia? Still banned. Your newsroom can’t treat Telegram like one global platform-it’s 195 different legal environments wrapped in one app.
That means if your team runs a Telegram channel to share press releases or updates, you’re now legally responsible for what users post in your comments. Aurum Law’s 2025 checklist says you must moderate UGC, ban crypto promotions, and update your privacy policy to match local laws. And it’s not optional. Fines under the EU’s DSA can hit up to 6% of global revenue. For a mid-sized news outlet, that’s millions.
Plus, Telegram’s new Mini Apps-used for payments, polls, and news alerts-require transactions to happen only in Telegram Stars. If your team uses a Mini App to collect tips or donations, you’re now in a regulated digital payment system. No PayPal. No Stripe. Just Telegram’s own currency.
How Telegram Compares to Other Apps
Signal? Still refuses to hand over any data. Zero compliance with law enforcement. WhatsApp? Complies with 80% of U.S. requests. Telegram? Around 65% globally. That puts it in the middle-more cooperative than Signal, less locked in than WhatsApp.
But here’s the real difference: Signal and WhatsApp are controlled by companies with clear headquarters and legal teams. Telegram’s infrastructure is spread across Dubai, Sweden, and decentralized data centers. Its servers are powered by hydroelectric plants in Sweden, part of a new “Cocoon AI” network built with Swedish and Singaporean tech firms. That means while it’s complying with some laws, it’s still technically outside the reach of others. That’s why experts call it a “hybrid model”-and why it’s so unstable.
What’s Working for Newsrooms (and What’s Not)
Some journalists are adapting. A survey of 347 reporters across 42 countries found 54% now trust verified sources more than before. The 24-hour response time to takedown requests means dangerous disinformation channels vanish faster. One reporter in Ukraine said they finally got access to a verified channel of frontline medics after a week of waiting-a win they wouldn’t have had in 2023.
But the downsides are real. A journalist on Reddit lost access to three Syrian conflict channels in April 2025 because an automated system flagged them as “potential extremist content.” It took 11 days to get them restored. Another newsroom in Brazil had their channel flagged for sharing a photo of a protest-because the background showed a political slogan. They had to appeal, provide legal documentation, and wait.
And here’s the quiet crisis: Telegram’s policy documentation grew from 328 pages in late 2024 to over 1,200 pages by May 2025. Newsrooms now need to assign 15-20 hours a week just to stay compliant. That’s a full day. For small outlets? Impossible without hiring a dedicated compliance officer.
What You Need to Do Now
If you’re a newsroom using Telegram, here’s what you must do by the end of this quarter:
- Map your channels. Which ones are public? Which are private? Who moderates them? Document every one.
- Verify your sources. Don’t trust the blue badge. Check who verified the account. Look up the verifying organization. Is it credible? Is it neutral?
- Train your team. Teach reporters how to use Telegram’s new reporting tools. Show them how to file appeals if their sources get wrongly removed.
- Update your legal checklist. If you’re operating in the EU, India, or Canada, you need jurisdiction-specific rules. Don’t assume one policy fits all.
- Build a backup. Telegram’s stability is uncertain. Start cross-referencing with Signal groups, encrypted email lists, or verified Twitter/X accounts. Don’t put all your sourcing eggs in one basket.
Telegram isn’t going back to its old ways. The days of anonymous leaks and unchecked rumors are over. The platform is now a regulated, AI-driven, legally exposed tool. It’s faster, more responsive, and more dangerous for journalism if you don’t adapt.
Newsrooms that treat Telegram like a free-for-all will get burned. Those that treat it like a legal minefield with a few bright spots will survive-and maybe even thrive.
Is Telegram still safe for anonymous sources?
No-not like it used to be. Telegram now shares IP addresses and phone numbers with law enforcement upon request. While end-to-end encryption still protects direct messages, public channels and group admins can be traced. Anonymous sources should use Signal or secure drop systems instead.
Can newsrooms still use Telegram for official updates?
Yes, but with major caveats. If you run a public channel, you’re legally responsible for comments and user posts. You must moderate content, avoid crypto promotions, and comply with local laws like the EU’s Digital Services Act. Many newsrooms now assign a compliance officer just to manage their Telegram presence.
Why do some verified Telegram channels seem biased?
Because Telegram lets third parties-like governments, universities, or NGOs-do the verifying. A channel verified by a state-run media body in Iran will look identical to one verified by Reporters Without Borders. You can’t trust the badge-you have to research who issued it.
What happens if my source’s Telegram channel gets taken down?
You lose access-fast. Telegram’s AI removes channels within hours of being reported. Appeals can take up to 11 days. If your source relied on that channel, you need backup contacts, encrypted messaging, or alternative verification paths. Never depend on a single Telegram channel as your only source.
Is Telegram’s new verification system reliable for breaking news?
It’s better than nothing, but not reliable alone. Verified channels reduce fraud, but 78% of misinformation still originates on Telegram. Always cross-check with multiple sources. Use verification as a filter, not a guarantee.
