They are decrypted on Telegram's servers

[relemedf5w023]

Understanding data protection for group chats on Telegram is crucial, as they operate differently from Secret Chats and require a specific approach to privacy.

Key Point: Telegram Group Chats are NOT End-to-End Encrypted (E2EE)

This is the most important distinction. Unlike Secret Chats, regular group chats on Telegram use client-server encryption. This means:

Messages are encrypted as they travel from your device to Telegram's servers.
They are then re-encrypted and sent to the other south africa telegram phone number list members, where they are decrypted on their devices.
While this protects your data in transit from external interception, Telegram itself theoretically has access to the content of your group chats on its servers. This is a fundamental difference from apps like Signal or WhatsApp (for all their chats, including groups) where even the service provider cannot read the content due to E2EE.

Given this, the data protection for group chats on Telegram focuses more on access control, user anonymity within the group, and managing data on your device, rather than true end-to-end content privacy from Telegram's servers.

Here's how to use Telegram's data protection features for group chats:

I. Controlling Who Can Add You to Groups
This is your first line of defense against unwanted group intrusions and potential spam.

Setting: Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Groups & Channels.
Options:
Everyone: Anyone on Telegram can add you to a group.