Telegram: age checks in the UK
Sensitive-content toggle needs an on-device face scan through Telegram's official age-verification bot, UK only, since 28 July 2025.
Age check for some content or features Messaging Telegram FZ-LLC verified 6 September 2026
Facts panel
Published statements are shown with their sources and the dates we checked them. Missing information and availability limits remain explicit.
- Domain
- telegram.org
- Age check
- Age check for some content or features, first recorded 28 July 2025
- Triggered by
- adult or mature content
- Applies to
- all UK users
- Methods
- Face scan
- Vendor
- Other recorded providers for face scan (Telegram in-house (official bot))
- Overall record checked
- 6 September 2026. Individual methods may have later checks, shown below.
Methods and retention, one row per method
| Method | Provider | Retention, as published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facial age estimation (face scan) | Telegram in-house (official bot) |
No published retention period found (checked 6 September 2026). Notes: Press: "No images or data leave your device or reach our servers." A VPN-blog claim that Telegram stores the result plus metadata was not found on a Telegram page. Telegram’s developer documentation (read 18 October 2026) confirms the mechanism, “Telegram implements this through the Main Mini App of a special bot.”, and that the mini app may request camera access, but says nothing about on-device processing or retention. The press page cited for the on-device wording was unreachable (Cloudflare 522) on 18 October 2026, so the row’s check date was not advanced. |
durovscode.com, dated 28 July 2025 Secondary source (press) · checked 6 September 2026 |
Every method row for this service rests on press reporting rather than the service's own page. The service's own wording has not been read yet; see the points still being verified.
What you will see
- What happens
- Turning on sensitive content prompts a face scan via the bot.
- How long it takes
- Not stated by the service.
- If you decline
- Sensitive content stays off.
- Official help page
- none recorded
Questions people ask about Telegram
Does Telegram require age verification in the UK?
For some content or features. As of 6 September 2026, Telegram asks UK users to complete an age check for adult or mature content, applying to all UK users. First recorded 28 July 2025.
Is the Telegram age check a face scan?
A face scan (facial age estimation) is the only recorded method. Provider named: Telegram in-house (official bot). Which methods a service offers can change; the date each was checked is shown on the page.
What does Telegram keep after the age check?
Facial age estimation (face scan) via Telegram in-house (official bot): No published retention period found (checked 6 September 2026).
What if the Telegram age check is not working?
This site records what the service publishes; it does not troubleshoot or offer workarounds. No official help page for the check is recorded for Telegram. If you do not complete the check, the service states: Sensitive content stays off.
Regulator actions
No Ofcom or ICO action naming this service is recorded as of 6 September 2026.
Sources for this entry
- Durov's Code press 28 July 2025
- Telegram developer documentation: Age verification other
Changes to this record
- — sources, methods.notes, open_questions: Added Telegram’s developer documentation as a primary source for the bot mechanism. The press source (Durov’s Code) was unreachable on 18 October 2026, so last_verified was not advanced. manual
- — seed: record created from research/01 and research/02 seed
Correct this entry
If Telegram's own page says something different, that page wins and we want to know. Send a correction with the URL. Corrections are answered within a week and logged above with their source. Nothing you send is published.