US Prosecutors Granted Permission to Hack Telegram Servers

Introduction

The US Department of Justice has obtained judicial authorization to remotely hack into the messenger Telegram as part of a child exploitation investigation. This involves the use of so-called remote search techniques aimed at obtaining information from a suspect's account. This decision caused a wave of discussion, as Telegram has traditionally positioned itself as one of the most secure messengers in the world.

What happened?

According to documents published by Court Watch, the U.S. Attorney's Office has secured court authorization to implement remote requests to Telegram servers in order to obtain evidence. The goal is to determine details of the suspect's communications related to a child abuse case.

Although Telegram is physically based in Dubai and is not directly subject to U.S. jurisdiction, the court approved the request on the basis that the data, once reached from devices located in the U.S., is subject to federal law.

How does the "remote search technique" work?

Details about the technology itself are limited, but it is known that US authorities intend to use a special method of sending commands or messages directly to Telegram's servers. These commands can retrieve certain data associated with a specific account.

Such a legal strategy has not been used before - this is the first time in two decades of monitoring federal cases, according to a statement from Court Watch.

Telegram response

The messenger responded to the situation with a harsh statement:

"It is impossible even for Telegram engineers themselves to access messages on Telegram servers due to the peculiarities of the system architecture. Telegram servers are securely encrypted and no viable means of breaking this encryption has ever been found " - Telegram.

The company emphasizes that:

• Telegram messages are protected by end-to-end encryption (in secret chats).
• Even with access to the servers, disclosure of message content is impossible without private keys on users' devices.
• Telegram does not give third parties direct access to messages.
• However, the messenger complies with legally binding requests by disclosing IP addresses and phone numbers when ordered to do so.

Legal and technical implications

Digital security and legal experts note:

• Possible extension of US jurisdiction to foreign digital platforms.
• An attempt to circumvent strong encryption through addressing "vulnerabilities" at the data transmission level.
• Potential precedent for international law and digital sovereignty.

In the meantime, Telegram remains one of the most popular platforms for communication, and the issue of access to its data remains a key issue in the debate over the boundaries of privacy and security.

Conclusion

This case could be a turning point in the relationship between government agencies and secure messengers. Although Telegram denies the possibility of remote hacking, the actions of U.S. authorities signal a desire to extend control over digital communications, even beyond their jurisdiction.

Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops.