Telegram provides user data to U.S. authorities following judicial order

Telegram has provided identification data of a user to United States authorities following a judicial order based on the Stored Communications Act. The information handed over includes the user’s phone number, account ID, and IP address.

The data pertains to Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, who was arrested in October 2025 on allegations of involvement in the October 7, 2023, attacks led by Hamas against Israel. In official communications attached to the legal proceedings, Telegram stated it is providing the information voluntarily to cooperate with competent authorities when consistent with applicable laws.

This move signals a shift in the platform’s historical stance of resisting government requests. Telegram has increasingly complied with security orders, moving toward a pattern similar to other major technology companies. This institutional change has intensified following the August 2024 arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov in France, which involved investigations into the company’s perceived lack of cooperation regarding crimes such as child exploitation.