Telegram has introduced a new decentralized verification system that enables official third-party services to assign additional verification icons to user accounts and chats, aiming to enhance transparency and reduce scams on its platform. The initiative comes as messaging platforms face increasing pressure to combat fraud and misinformation, following similar initiatives like WhatsApp’s integration of verification tools to authenticate content.
The new verification method operates alongside Telegram’s existing verification system for public figures and organizations. Third-party services must complete an application process and receive verification from Telegram before they can begin assigning verification icons. Once approved, these services can provide verified accounts with unique logos that appear next to their names. The approach matches broader industry trends toward decentralized verification systems, which can offer enhanced security and reduced risk of single points of failure.
The platform update includes several additional features designed to improve user experience. Users can now create customizable chat folders with support for custom emojis, enabling better conversation organization. The in-app camera on both Android and iOS devices has been enhanced with automatic QR code recognition capabilities, allowing users to open links directly in their preferred browsers without switching applications. The QR functionality arrives at a time when mobile authentication methods are evolving rapidly, with major platforms like Google Chrome implementing new authentication standards for mobile users.
The verification system represents part of a broader industry effort to combat misinformation and fraudulent activities on messaging platforms. Security experts note that while third-party verification adds an additional layer of trust, it functions as one component of a comprehensive approach to platform security. “Advanced mobile threat detection and real-time app scanning remain crucial elements in countering sophisticated attacks that exploit user trust,” says Stephen Kowski, Field CTO at SlashNext Email Security+. The assessment matches recent guidance from CISA’s mobile security guidelines, which emphasize the importance of multiple security layers in mobile communications.
The implementation of this decentralized verification platform marks a significant shift in how messaging services approach user verification, moving beyond traditional centralized verification systems to incorporate trusted third-party validators. The evolution reflects growing recognition of the need for more robust and diverse approaches to digital identity verification in mobile communications.
Sources: Dataconomy, HackRead, The Indian Express
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