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The "People Nearby" feature has become a stumbling block in user privacy.
The recently launched tool allows you to determine the location of Telegram users who use the "People nearby" function. A tool called Close-Circuit Telegram Vision (CCTV) uses this feature for global user search.
The main purpose of the "People Nearby" feature is to help you find other Telegram users in the immediate vicinity. However, the new tool allows you to search for users remotely around the world who have this feature activated.
A representative of CCTV said that the existing mechanisms for protecting the function are not effective enough. The project's GitHub page states that the tool allows you to track the location of other users in real time for logistics or security purposes, which " redefines how you interact with the environment."
CCTV testing showed that the tool can find Telegram users located near the specified coordinates. In one of the tests conducted by 404 Media, the tool identified about 70 Telegram users. The users found matched those that the Telegram app showed as being in the vicinity of the specified point.
CCTV Interface
In response to inquiries about the new tool, the Telegram press service reported that the "People nearby" function was created specifically for users who want to share their location. This option is always disabled by default, and the data that the CCTV tool shows is approximate (with an accuracy of 800 meters) and is only available to users who have explicitly chosen to broadcast their location.
According to the Telegram FAQ, the "People nearby" function does not allow you to conduct a global search for other users. Users who have activated the feature may assume that they are only visible to Telegram users who are in the same location.
CCTV explained that the tool uses the Telegram API associated with the "People nearby" function. CCTV uses arbitrary latitude and longitude as input data, which avoids the need to fake GPS data.
The recently launched tool allows you to determine the location of Telegram users who use the "People nearby" function. A tool called Close-Circuit Telegram Vision (CCTV) uses this feature for global user search.
The main purpose of the "People Nearby" feature is to help you find other Telegram users in the immediate vicinity. However, the new tool allows you to search for users remotely around the world who have this feature activated.
A representative of CCTV said that the existing mechanisms for protecting the function are not effective enough. The project's GitHub page states that the tool allows you to track the location of other users in real time for logistics or security purposes, which " redefines how you interact with the environment."
CCTV testing showed that the tool can find Telegram users located near the specified coordinates. In one of the tests conducted by 404 Media, the tool identified about 70 Telegram users. The users found matched those that the Telegram app showed as being in the vicinity of the specified point.
CCTV Interface
In response to inquiries about the new tool, the Telegram press service reported that the "People nearby" function was created specifically for users who want to share their location. This option is always disabled by default, and the data that the CCTV tool shows is approximate (with an accuracy of 800 meters) and is only available to users who have explicitly chosen to broadcast their location.
According to the Telegram FAQ, the "People nearby" function does not allow you to conduct a global search for other users. Users who have activated the feature may assume that they are only visible to Telegram users who are in the same location.
CCTV explained that the tool uses the Telegram API associated with the "People nearby" function. CCTV uses arbitrary latitude and longitude as input data, which avoids the need to fake GPS data.
