Telegram to let you delete messages sent by other users in personal and group chats

With the update, Telegram has also dropped the 48-hours time limit for deleting messages.

Tech2 News Staff|Mar 26, 2019, 13:26:05 IST

Is this a privacy purge?In its latest update to iOS, Android, and its web app, Telegram has added the ability for users to delete messages for all participants in the chats, irrespective of who sent them or when they were sent.Up till now, Telegram had a 48-hour window in which you could delete your own sent messages, both on your device and for others. Similar to how Delete for Everyone feature works on WhatsApp. However, with this update, Telegram has also dropped that time limit.[caption id="attachment_6328251" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Telegram app update takes privacy to another level.[/caption]This means, once you have this update, you can now wipe an entire chat history on your device and it will be wiped off for the user involved in the conversation as well. This is applicable for personal chats as well as group chats.(We can already imagine online chat-fights escalating to another level due to this feature)

via GIPHYHowever, while this feature sounds very extreme, Telegram founder Pavel Durov explains that this new functionality will lend more control to users on their digital history."We have to admit: Despite all of our progress in encryption and privacy, we have very little actual control of our data," he writes. "An old message you already forgot about can be taken out of context and used against you decades later. A hasty text you sent to a girlfriend in school can come to haunt you in 2030 when you decide to run for mayor."Yes, there are certain instances where you would like to delete certain data from all sources possible. Sometimes, deleting it just off your phone makes no sense. However, this feature has the complete potential of backfiring as well. It has the potential to completely change the meaning of conversations if someone decides to selectively delete messages from other people in a group or personal chat, for instance.Deleting these messages leaves no notification behind like we see on WhatsApp. So, if someone secretly removes an old message, you would likely not even realise.This also means, if someone ever feels inspired to be malicious, they could delete selective messages, and the meaning of a chat may change entirely. It will be difficult to trust Telegram chats for evidence in the future.In addition to the chat deleting feature, Telegram has also added something called 'anonymous forwarding', which will allow you to restrict who can forward your messages. When this setting is enabled, your forwarded messages will no longer lead back to your account — they'll just display an unclickable name in the “from” field. This way people you chat with will have no verifiable proof you ever sent them anything.

via GIPHYIronically, the inability to verify proof of who sends what on instant messaging platforms is exactly what has WhatsApp now stuck with its fake news problem.

Why AI notetakers are raising serious privacy and security concerns

AI notetakers promise effortless meeting summaries, but experts warn they could expose confidential conversations, corporate secrets and personal voiceprints. As businesses increasingly adopt AI-powered meeting assistants, questions over data storage, privacy, consent and legal risks are becoming impossible to ignore

5 min read

China's low-cost AI models are changing the global AI race. Here's why Silicon Valley is worried

As Chinese firms continue to improve performance while keeping prices low, the AI race is no longer just about building the smartest model—it is increasingly becoming a battle over who can deliver the best value

2 min read

China's Kimi K3 challenges US AI leaders with frontier-level performance at lower cost

Chinese artificial intelligence startup Moonshot AI has unveiled its latest open-weight AI model, Kimi K3, with early results suggesting it could compete with some of the world's most advanced AI systems developed by leading US companies

2 min read

How did Instagram run ads promoting child abuse in India?

India has issued a notice to Meta after an investigation alleged that Instagram displayed paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material. MeitY ordered Meta to remove such Instagram ads and explain within seven days how they were approved

8 min read

Why has India halted WhatsApp’s username feature before launch?

India has halted WhatsApp’s planned username feature, citing concerns about cybercrime, impersonation, and law enforcement challenges. As Meta races to address security concerns, here’s why MeitY has paused the rollout, what the feature does, and how it could influence privacy and online safety in India

3 min read

Up Next