5. Fragment Platform & Anonymous Numbers (+888) (November 2022): Detaching from Personal Identity
Revolutionary Anonymity: This was the most significant evolution in phone number usage for Telegram. Fragment, a blockchain-based platform, allowed users to purchase unique, anonymous phone numbers starting with the country code +888 using Toncoin.
SIM-Free Registration: These numbers are not tied to traditional SIM cards or telecom providers, meaning users can create Telegram accounts without any direct link to their real-world personal identity. Verification codes are sent to their TON wallet or the Fragment platform, not via SMS.
Ultimate Privacy Layer: This offering caters to users who desire the highest level of anonymity, completely decoupling their Telegram presence from their personal phone number.
Historic Stance: For years, Telegram maintained telegram number database a very strong stance against sharing any user data with governments, often stating they had never shared user data and would only consider it in extreme cases of terrorism with a valid court order.
Policy Change: In September 2024, Telegram updated its Privacy Policy to state that it may disclose a user's IP address and phone number to relevant judicial authorities if the user is a suspect in a criminal case that violates Telegram's Terms of Service.
Transparency Reports: Concurrently, Telegram committed to publishing quarterly transparency reports detailing such disclosures.
Impact: This marked a significant shift, indicating Telegram's response to increasing global pressure to combat illegal activities on its platform. While Secret Chats remain end-to-end encrypted and inaccessible, this change affects the metadata (IP, phone number) of users involved in severe violations.
Telegram's phone number usage has evolved from a simple, mandatory identifier to a flexible system with multiple layers of privacy and anonymity. While the phone number remains the core anchor for account creation and security, Telegram has introduced usernames, granular privacy controls, and ultimately, truly anonymous phone numbers via Fragment, all while navigating growing external pressures for data disclosure. This evolution reflects a continuous effort to balance user privacy with the practicalities of operating a global messaging platform.