‘Telegram lets users disable contact linking via 06 number’

Telegram is working on a feature that will allow users to disable the automatic linking of 06 numbers to account names. The Chinese and Hong Kong governments would use this function to identify and arrest Hong Kong protesters.

Reuters writes that on the basis of an anonymous source. When Telegram users sign up for the app, they must verify their identity via a code sent via text message. The 06 number used for this will not be visible to other users afterwards, but will remain in Telegram’s systems. Because those numbers remain in the systems, users can find each other by uploading their address books. Then the telephone numbers from the address books are linked to the telephone numbers of the Telegram users.

Reuters is now saying, based on unconfirmed concerns from protesters, that the Chinese or Hong Kong governments are abusing that linkage function. They would upload ‘large amounts’ of telephone numbers, which are then automatically linked to Telegram users. In this way, the telephone numbers of protesters leaders are traced. The authorities would then go back to the telecom providers to identify the persons behind the telephone numbers.

According to the Reuters source, Telegram has evidence that governments may have uploaded the phone numbers in order to link them, but it’s unclear whether they were able to identify protesters with this ploy. Still, according to the source, Telegram is working on a feature to disable this linking method so that other users can no longer find their account by uploading their phone number. However, disabling this feature would make it harder for users to find each other.

Hong Kong demonstrators have been taking to the streets since late March to protest. The protests started with a law that could extradite people in Hong Kong to China. The Chinese and Hong Kong governments have condemned the protests.