Encrypted messaging app Telegram, which has been in the news lately because of its use within the terrorist group ISIS, today announced a few new features aimed at people who use the app to chat in groups. The app recently blocked the 78-Pro ISIS channels and said that it will take action against terrorist or illegal channels, should users report them. The 1000 group-member restrict may simply make Telegram engaging for lots of a workplaces. This is similar to WhatsApp’s group admins feature. When you click the button, a popup appears that asks the user to provide a reason – spam, violence, pornography, or “other”.
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And just like Telegram’s iOS-wide notifications, Telegram’s in-app notification lets you send a quick reply or a sticker right from where you are when you get notified.
One of the top distributors of ISIS propaganda, which posts official ISIS releases in English, found its way back onto the app on Tuesday.
The ISIS channel that reappeared on Tuesday can be accessed via the correct invite link, but a person would have to have the specific link in order to gain access to the channel, rather than being able to figure out the channel link based on the username.
Now it’s possible for certain users to be designated as admins of a given group. Copying and pasting allows users to spread the information to other channels or group chats without revealing the source of the information.
On a much lighter note, Telegram is in the news now on account of its latest update, which introduces three new and noteworthy features. But the channels look different than they did before – they’re missing usernames and they no longer specify how many members they have.
Already widely used for its security and privacy as well as speed and reliability, Telegram has just become even better with the introduction of admins, supergroups, and in-app notifications.
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“For months, the group has used Telegram to disseminate public statements, including its claim of responsibility for the Paris attacks last week and the October 31 crash of a Russian airliner in Egypt”, reports The Wall Street Journal. Similarly, Communication app Telegram Messenger has been strident in its promise to protect users privacy.
