{
  "slug": "telegram",
  "category": "messengers",
  "name": "Telegram",
  "description": "Cloud-based messenger with large groups, public channels and bots. Regular chats and groups are stored on Telegram's servers with client-server encryption; only optional one-to-one secret chats are end-to-end encrypted.",
  "website": "https://telegram.org",
  "source": "https://github.com/DrKLO/Telegram",
  "license": "GPL-2.0",
  "platforms": [
    "android",
    "ios",
    "windows",
    "macos",
    "linux",
    "web"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "AE",
    "name": "United Arab Emirates",
    "eyes": null,
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": null
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "D",
  "score": 44,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Telegram scores 44 out of 100 (grade D) on the messengers criteria. It meets 1 of 8 criteria: no trackers or telemetry. It partly meets open source, no ads or data sales, end-to-end encrypted by default and no phone number needed. It does not meet independent audit, metadata protection and decentralized. It is based in the United Arab Emirates: Not in the Five, Nine or Fourteen Eyes.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/messengers/telegram/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/messengers/telegram/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/DrKLO/Telegram/blob/master/LICENSE",
      "note": "The apps are open source (the Android app is GPL-2.0); the server is closed source."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/org.telegram.messenger/latest/",
      "note": "Exodus finds no trackers in the Android app, and the privacy policy states cookies are not used for profiling or advertising."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://telegram.org/privacy#5-6-no-ads-based-on-contents-of-chats-or-contact-lists",
      "note": "Sponsored messages appear in large public channels, bots and search, and by default are based only on the channel topic or search terms rather than user data."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "e2ee_default": {
      "title": "End-to-end encrypted by default",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://telegram.org/faq#q-so-how-do-you-encrypt-data",
      "note": "Only secret chats, which must be started manually and do not support groups, are end-to-end encrypted; cloud chats and groups use client-server encryption."
    },
    "no_phone_number": {
      "title": "No phone number needed",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://telegram.org/faq#q-who-can-see-my-phone-number",
      "note": "A phone number is required to sign up, but it can be hidden from everyone and contacts can be reached by username."
    },
    "metadata_protection": {
      "title": "Metadata protection",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "The server stores cloud chats and sees who talks to whom."
    },
    "decentralized": {
      "title": "Decentralized",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "One central service; the server code is not published."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T06:38:22.967Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T06:56:31Z"
}