# Telegram Group Sharing My Photos: How to Get Them Removed > Your photos posted in a Telegram group or channel without consent? In Malaysia, report each message, email abuse@telegram.org with t.me links, then go to MCMC. - URL: https://www.awarexone.com/research/remove-telegram-group-sharing-my-photos - Author: Md Shariar Shanaz Shuvon, Founder & CEO, AwareXone - Published: 2026-10-05 - Topics: Telegram, Content removal, Malaysia - Related service: Social media content removal: https://www.awarexone.com/social-media-recovery/social-media-content-removal ## Short answer Save the group name, links, usernames and dates, then report each message inside Telegram and email abuse@telegram.org with the exact t.me links. Telegram acts on public groups and channels but treats private groups differently, so for a private group, or photos that come with threats, make a police report and a complaint to MCMC. ## Summary - Telegram lets you report any message from inside the app, and it also takes takedown emails at abuse@telegram.org when you include the t.me links. - Save the group name, links, usernames and dates before you report, because a group can delete messages or vanish without warning. - Telegram says it acts on public groups and channels, while private groups and chats are treated as private among their members, so expect less from a report there. - For a private group, or when photos come with threats, make a police report and a complaint to MCMC, which licenses Telegram in Malaysia. - Never pay anyone who sells Telegram group deletion, and never join the group under a fake name or organise mass reports. - Telegram, MCMC or a court decides what comes down, and nobody can promise every copy of a photo will disappear. A friend sends you a screenshot. Your photo, maybe a selfie from your Instagram or a picture from a family event, is sitting in a Telegram group or channel you have never joined, with comments under it from people you do not know. You want it taken down, and you want to know who can actually do that. The short answer: save the evidence, report each message inside Telegram, and email Telegram's takedown address with the exact links. If the group is private, or the photos come with threats, take it to the police and MCMC as well, because Telegram treats private groups differently. This guide covers ordinary photos shared without your consent: what Telegram says it will and will not act on, the reports that fit each situation, the Malaysian routes, and the people selling fake takedowns. It is general information, not legal advice. Last checked: 5 October 2026. > Warning: **If the photos are intimate, involve a child, or come with threats.** Put your safety first. If anyone threatens you or demands money, or the photo shows a child, go to the nearest police station and report the messages in the app. Do not forward the images to anyone. For intimate photos or AI fakes, follow our guide to [removing intimate images posted online](https://www.awarexone.com/research/intimate-image-abuse-removal-malaysia), and if someone is demanding money, read [what to do about sextortion](https://www.awarexone.com/research/sextortion-social-media-malaysia). ## How Do You Get Your Photo Removed From a Telegram Group? Open the message with your photo and use Telegram's Report option, choosing the reason that fits. Then email abuse@telegram.org with the t.me links to the group and the message, as Telegram's [takedown FAQ](https://telegram.org/faq#q-there-39s-illegal-content-on-telegram-how-do-i-take-it-down) asks. Before either, save screenshots that show the group name, the date and the poster's username. If the group is public, Telegram's moderators review it under its rules. If the group is private, Telegram says it treats private chats as private among their members, so a police report and an MCMC complaint usually carry more weight. If you took the photo yourself, a copyright notice to dmca@telegram.org is also open to you for public content. Telegram decides what it removes, and lawful content you simply dislike may stay up. ## Public or Private: Why It Changes Everything Telegram has two very different kinds of spaces. A public group or channel has a username and a t.me link that anyone can open. A private group is reached only by invitation or a private invite link. Telegram's own FAQ draws a sharp line between them. In its answer on [takedown requests from third parties](https://telegram.org/faq#q-do-you-process-take-down-requests-from-third-parties), Telegram says it processes legitimate requests to take down illegal public content, such as sticker sets, bots, groups and channels, after performing the necessary legal checks. In its [copyright answer](https://telegram.org/faq#q-a-bot-or-channel-is-infringing-on-my-copyright-what-do-i-do), it goes further: private groups and chats are private amongst their participants, and Telegram says it does not process any requests related to them. That does not make a private group a lawless space. It means Telegram itself is unlikely to step in, so the police, MCMC and sometimes a lawyer matter more. Report in the app anyway. *How Telegram's own FAQ treats each kind of space, read 5 October 2026. Menu labels and policies can change by app version and region.* | Where your photo is | What Telegram says it does | Your strongest routes | | --- | --- | --- | | Public channel or public group (has a t.me username anyone can open) | Reviews reported public content and takes it down when it finds that appropriate | In-app Report, then an email to abuse@telegram.org with the links. Add dmca@telegram.org if you own the copyright | | Private group or private channel (invite only) | Says private groups and chats are private among members and, for copyright, that it does not process requests about them | In-app Report if you can see it, then a police report and an MCMC complaint with your evidence | | One-to-one chat where you sent the photo | Lets you delete messages you sent or received for both sides | Delete it for both sides yourself. Copies already forwarded elsewhere are not affected | | A fake Telegram account using your photo as its picture | Points people whose identity is copied by a scammer to @NoToScam | Report the account in the app and contact @NoToScam | ## Step 1: Save the Evidence Before Anything Else Groups delete messages, change names and disappear. Once a message is gone you cannot report it, and the police and MCMC will want to see what was there. See our guide to [collecting evidence before you report harassment](https://www.awarexone.com/research/collect-evidence-before-reporting-harassment) for more. - The group or channel name, and its t.me link or @username if it has one. - A screenshot of each message with your photo, showing the group name, the date and the poster's username in the same frame. - The message link, where the app offers a Copy Link option on that message. - The poster's display name, @username and profile screenshot, as shown on screen. - Captions, comments and any messages that threaten you, name you or give out your details. - The date and time you found each item, and who told you about it. - Every report reference, email reply and police report number as they come in. > Note: **Keep the evidence, not the photo.** You need a record, but you do not need to spread the image. Keep the screenshots in one private folder, do not forward the photo to friends to show them, and do not repost it with a warning. Every copy you share is another copy that needs removing. ## Step 2: Report Each Message Inside Telegram Telegram's [takedown FAQ](https://telegram.org/faq#q-there-39s-illegal-content-on-telegram-how-do-i-take-it-down) says every Telegram app has a Report button for flagging content to its moderators. Report each message that carries your photo, not just one of them. 1. On Android, tap the message and choose Report from the menu. 2. On iPhone, press and hold the message, then choose Report. 3. On Telegram Desktop, Telegram Web or Telegram for macOS, right-click the message and choose Report. 4. Pick the reason closest to the truth. Telegram asks you to choose an appropriate reason, so do not pick a more serious one to get attention. 5. Repeat for each message, then note the date you reported it. If you cannot see the group because you are not a member, do not join under a fake name to get in. Ask the person who showed you the screenshot to report it from their own account, honestly, and rely on your email and the Malaysian routes below. ## Step 3: Email Telegram's Takedown Address Telegram runs an automated takedown address, abuse@telegram.org. Its FAQ says a takedown email must include links to the content, either t.me links or @usernames, so its moderators can find it. Without links, there is little Telegram can act on. - Subject line: a short description, such as "My photos posted without consent in a public channel". - The t.me link or @username of the group or channel, and each message link you saved. - One or two plain sentences: you are the person in the photos, you did not agree to them being posted there, and what else is happening (abusive captions, your name, your contact details). - The dates you found and reported the messages. Send one clear email per group. Sending the same complaint dozens of times does not speed anything up. ## If You Took the Photo: the Copyright Route If you took the photo yourself, you are generally its copyright owner, which gives you a rights-based route that does not depend on whether Telegram thinks the post breaks its other rules. If someone else took the photo of you, such as a professional photographer, the copyright usually sits with them, and they or their authorised agent would need to send the notice. This is general information, not legal advice. Telegram's [copyright FAQ](https://telegram.org/faq#q-a-bot-or-channel-is-infringing-on-my-copyright-what-do-i-do) says that if a bot, channel, sticker set or other content on its public platform infringes your copyright, you can complain to dmca@telegram.org. It says only the copyright owner, or an agent authorised to act for them, should send these requests, and that it does not process requests about private groups and chats. > Warning: **Only claim what is true.** A copyright notice is a formal claim that you own the work. Do not send one for a photo you did not take, and do not exaggerate. False notices can carry legal consequences, and they undermine the honest reports that follow. If you are unsure who owns a photo, report it under the privacy or harassment reason instead. In Malaysia, MCMC's complaint page lists the Copyright Act 1987 under the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN). ## Malaysian Routes: Police, MCMC and Cyber999 Telegram is not outside Malaysian rules. According to [MCMC's news portal](https://mcmc.bernama.com/news.php?id=2379804), Telegram obtained an Application Service Provider Class licence from MCMC on 2 January 2025, becoming the third internet messaging and social media service licensed under the new requirements. The Online Safety Act 2025 has been in force since 1 January 2026, according to [MCMC's page for the Act](https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/legal/acts/communications-and-multimedia-amendment-act-20-1). How any law applies to your photos is for the authorities or a lawyer to decide. - Police (PDRM): make a report at the nearest station if the photos come with threats, extortion, harassment or claims about you that may be defamatory. MCMC's [complaint page](https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/make-a-complaint/make-a-complaint) lists PDRM for threats to life or property, cheating by personation and criminal defamation. Bring your printed screenshots and links rather than the photos themselves. - MCMC: the same page lists "Content on menacing, obscene, false, indecent & offensive" under Online Content Problems, and gives the complaint portal at aduan.mcmc.gov.my. Attach your links, screenshots, dates and Telegram report references. - CyberSecurity Malaysia Cyber999: if your photos were taken from a hacked phone, cloud account or Telegram account, report the incident through [MyCERT's Cyber999 reporting channel](https://www.mycert.org.my/portal/full?id=9eb77829-7dd4-4180-814f-de3a539b7a01), and secure the account using our guide to a [hacked Telegram account](https://www.awarexone.com/research/telegram-account-hacked-malaysia). - A lawyer: for defamation, a persistent campaign, or when you want a court order. MCMC's page lists civil action alongside the police for defamation. ## Things That Make Removal Harder - Reporting before saving evidence. If the group deletes the message, your proof goes with it. - Joining the group under a fake name or a borrowed account to collect proof or argue. It can expose you and break Telegram's rules. - Organising friends to mass report, or choosing a false reason. Telegram asks for an appropriate reason, and a pile of dishonest reports helps nobody. - Messaging the poster or the admins in anger. It can push them to repost elsewhere or target you further. - Trying to find out who is behind an anonymous account. Leave that to the police, who have lawful ways to ask. > Warning: **Telegram group deletion sellers.** You may see adverts or get messages, in English, Bahasa Malaysia or Chinese, offering to "delete" or "ban" a Telegram group if you pay them. Telegram's own takedown routes cost nothing. No outside seller can delete a group, and people selling this usually take the money, run mass false reports, or ask for your Telegram login code. Never share a login code or password with anyone, and do not pay. If you lost money, call your bank or the National Scam Response Centre on 997 and make a police report. ## What Telegram Will Probably Not Do Be ready for a slow or silent answer. Telegram's FAQ describes reviewing reports and taking content down when it decides that is appropriate, and its [Terms of Service](https://telegram.org/tos) focus on spam, scams, violence and illegal pornographic content on publicly viewable channels and bots, alongside activity illegal in most countries. A normal photo of you, posted with an unkind caption, may not cross that line in Telegram's view, even when it feels very wrong to you. It also helps to know what you control yourself. Telegram's [FAQ on deleting messages](https://telegram.org/faq#q-can-i-delete-my-messages) says you can delete any message you sent or received in a one-to-one chat for both sides, but in groups you can delete only your own messages. If you once posted the photo in a group yourself, delete it there. Copies others have saved or forwarded stay where they are. ## When a Case Review Makes Sense Everything above you can do yourself, and those official routes are the ones that actually lead to removal. SocialSafe by AwareXone, our recovery and content removal service, can help in narrower cases: when your photos appear across several groups and platforms, when they are tied to an impersonation or hacked account, or when you need help turning evidence into clear, honest reports. We never file false or mass reports, we cannot delete a Telegram group, and Telegram or the authorities decide what comes down. Our [content removal page](https://www.awarexone.com/social-media-recovery/social-media-content-removal) explains what we do and do not handle, and our [Trust Center](https://www.awarexone.com/trust) sets out what we never ask for, including your passwords and login codes. If someone has made a whole fake account with your photos, our guide to [a fake Telegram account impersonating you](https://www.awarexone.com/research/remove-fake-telegram-account-impersonating-me) covers that route. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can Telegram delete a whole group that keeps sharing my photos? Telegram can remove public groups and channels after reviewing a report, and its FAQ lists groups and channels among the public content it takes down. It decides case by case, and it says it does not process copyright requests about private groups. ### Will the person who posted my photo know I reported it? Telegram's FAQ does not say it tells posters who reported them. Your email to abuse@telegram.org goes to Telegram, not to the group, but assume anything you write could be quoted and keep it factual. ### Gambar saya disebar dalam group Telegram, apa saya boleh buat? Simpan bukti dahulu: tangkap layar dengan nama group, tarikh dan nama pengguna. Kemudian laporkan setiap mesej dalam aplikasi, hantar e-mel kepada abuse@telegram.org dengan pautan t.me, dan buat aduan kepada MCMC di aduan.mcmc.gov.my atau laporan polis jika ada ugutan. ### Is it illegal in Malaysia to post someone's photo on Telegram without permission? It depends on the photo, the caption and what it is used for. Threats, obscene content, defamation and impersonation can each fall under Malaysian law, and the police, MCMC or a court decide. Speak to a lawyer for advice on your own case. ### How long does Telegram take to act on a report? Telegram does not publish a timeframe for reports or takedown emails. Keep your evidence, note the dates, and go to MCMC or the police if the content stays up and is causing harm. ## Official sources - [Telegram FAQ: There's illegal content on Telegram. How do I take it down? (read 5 October 2026)](https://telegram.org/faq#q-there-39s-illegal-content-on-telegram-how-do-i-take-it-down) - [Telegram FAQ: A bot or channel is infringing on my copyright. What do I do? (read 5 October 2026)](https://telegram.org/faq#q-a-bot-or-channel-is-infringing-on-my-copyright-what-do-i-do) - [Telegram FAQ: Do you process take-down requests from third parties? (read 5 October 2026)](https://telegram.org/faq#q-do-you-process-take-down-requests-from-third-parties) - [Telegram FAQ: Can I delete my messages? (read 5 October 2026)](https://telegram.org/faq#q-can-i-delete-my-messages) - [Telegram: Terms of Service (read 5 October 2026)](https://telegram.org/tos) - [MCMC: Make a complaint (read 5 October 2026)](https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/make-a-complaint/make-a-complaint) - [MCMC: Online Safety Act 2025 [Act 866] (read 5 October 2026)](https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/legal/acts/communications-and-multimedia-amendment-act-20-1) - [MCMC news portal: Social Media Licensing: Telegram, Third Provider To Receive License (read 5 October 2026)](https://mcmc.bernama.com/news.php?id=2379804) - [MyCERT: Cyber999 Reporting Channel (read 5 October 2026)](https://www.mycert.org.my/portal/full?id=9eb77829-7dd4-4180-814f-de3a539b7a01) --- AwareXone is an independent Malaysia-based provider, not affiliated with any platform. The platform makes the final decision on every account. AwareXone never asks for passwords, OTP codes, backup codes or session cookies.