Telegram to Cooperate with Law Enforcement on User Data Requests
Telegram, once a preferred communication platform for cybercriminals due to its lack of content moderation or monitoring, is set to change its stance. In a move to comply with legal requirements, the messaging service has announced that it will begin cooperating with law enforcement agencies by sharing user information, including phone numbers and IP addresses, when requested and backed by a legal court order.
This marks a shift in the platform’s approach to user privacy. Previously, Telegram maintained a policy of minimal oversight, which made it appealing to those engaged in illicit activities. However, the company’s new policy indicates a willingness to assist authorities in investigating and prosecuting cybercrime.
Despite this change, Telegram has made it clear that it will not engage in active moderation of content shared on its platform. Much like WhatsApp, Telegram will leave it up to users to report content they deem illegal or inappropriate. Users can flag videos, texts, photos, and other content they find objectionable, but it will not be the company’s responsibility to remove such material proactively.
With this shift in policy, it is expected that some individuals involved in criminal activities may move to platforms like Signal, which is known for its strong privacy features and emphasis on anonymity.
DDoS Attack on South Korea’s Defense Ministry
As tensions continue to rise over the war in Ukraine, South Korea’s Defense Ministry has become the target of a sustained cyberattack. The attacks are believed to have been launched by North Korean hackers in retaliation for a recent statement made by the South Korean government.
Last week, the South Korean Ministry of Defense released a report indicating that its intelligence agencies had successfully tracked the movement of North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. In response, South Korea’s military has been under intense cyber assault, with Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks targeting several key websites.
These attacks, which began on the night of November 5, 2024, have overwhelmed the servers of the South Korean Ministry of Defense, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Civil Operations Command, and military administration websites. The DDoS attacks have caused significant disruptions, forcing the ministry to temporarily shut down these sites due to excessive traffic.
Cybersecurity experts believe that North Korea may be behind the attacks, as the country has a long history of engaging in cyber warfare. According to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), North Korea has launched as many as 1.6 million cyberattacks per day against South Korea in recent years. South Korean authorities also revealed that between January 2021 and February 2023, hackers linked to North Korea managed to exfiltrate about 1GB of sensitive data from government systems.
The ongoing cyber conflict underscores the growing importance of digital security in global geopolitics, particularly as state-sponsored hacking continues to escalate as a tool of international conflict.
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