Here’s a breakdown of how Telegram handles consent-based number access:
User Control: By default, a user’s phone number on Telegram is not publicly visible. Users actively control who can see their phone number through their privacy settings (Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number). Options typically include “Nobody,” “My Contacts,” or “Everybody.”
Bots’ Default State: Telegram bots, by design, do not have direct access to a user’s phone number or their full contact list unless the user explicitly grants it. This is a core privacy feature of the Bot API.
If a bot needs a user’s phone number (e.g., for identity verification, account linking, or delivery services), Telegram provides a specific, user-controlled mechanism.
Developers implement a KeyboardButton within a ReplyKeyboardMarkup (a custom keyboard shown below the chat input) and set its request_contact parameter to True.
Native Confirmation Prompt:
When the user taps this button! Telegram’s client application (on their mobile or desktop) displays a native, unavoidable pop-up confirmation telegram number database dialog. This dialog explicitly asks the user if they want! to share their phone number with the specific bot.
User’s Choice:
If the user taps “Share” (or “Allow”)! their phone number is then sent to the bot in the message.contact. phone_number field of the incoming message.
Consent for Sharing Other Users/Chats (for Bots)
If the user taps “Not Now” or “Cancel,” the bot does not receive the number, and the interaction continues without it.
>Transparency is Key: Ethically, developers privacy by design integrating ethics into your phone number list strategy are expected to clearly explain why their bot needs the phone number before presenting this button to the book your list user. This ensures informed consent.
Telegram also allows users to share details of other users or chats with a bot, but again, with consent and privacy limitations.