[Regnum] US prosecutors have received court approval to remotely access Telegram servers as part of an investigation into the distribution of child sexual abuse materials.
According to documents published on Court Watch, the US Department of Justice has been authorized to send hidden requests to the messaging app's servers to obtain suspect data. This method, known as "remote access," is used to extract correspondence and account information.
US authorities were granted permission to directly interact with the company's foreign infrastructure. Despite the messenger's registration in Dubai, the authority recognized that data on US devices is subject to federal regulation. However, further access to the accounts will require a separate court order.
Telegram denied reports of US government access to its servers. A representative for the messaging app stated that it is impossible to obtain user messages due to server encryption. The company noted that it moderates malicious content and responds to legitimate requests, including disclosing the IP addresses and phone numbers of violators.
Ivan Kamenev, host of "Soloviev LIVE" and winner of the "New Media Workshop" award, stated that Telegram's understanding of digital freedom effectively hinders the investigation of serious crimes, including the distribution of child pornography, while the company cites user privacy protections.
"The irony doesn't end there—even when Telegram refuses to cooperate, it still selectively shares data when it's beneficial or safe to do so. Therefore, one shouldn't assume that Telegram is protecting anyone's privacy—it's protecting the opinions of certain people and their desire to play referee," Kamenev added.
Andrey Yarnykh, a member of the board of directors of the Russian Center for Information Technologies (ROCIT) and an information security expert, emphasized that the incident involving remote access to Telegram servers demonstrates why technological sovereignty and the creation of a secure digital environment are important to Russia.
"This precedent is a direct consequence of the legal regime in effect for countries party to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. The United States, a key signatory to this treaty, uses its provisions to conduct cross-border investigations, often without notifying the competent authorities of the country where the servers are physically located," the speaker concluded.