Yes, for illegal public content: sticker sets, bots, groups and channels that anyone can reach. This is necessary both to serve users in the places that need the service most and to keep the apps distributed through the App Store and Google Play.
Where the line sits
| Processed | Not processed |
|---|---|
| Public channels and public groups | Private one-to-one chats |
| Bots | Private groups |
| Sticker sets | Secret Chats, which hold nothing to disclose |
The distinction is between publishing and corresponding. Content anyone can open is published, and a service that distributes it can be asked to stop. A conversation between two people is not, and treating it as though it were would mean inspecting private correspondence on request.
Typical cases
- Intellectual property. Sticker sets built from artwork somebody else owns are the most common single case.
- Illegal material published through public channels or bots.
- Impersonation of a person or a brand.
How to submit one
Use the Report button in any Telegram app, or write to abuse@telegram.org with the exact t.me links. Copyright claims go to dmca@telegram.org. A request with precise links and evidence of the right being asserted is acted on far faster than a general description.
Updated