How to disable People Nearby on Telegram and avoid proximity tracking

Telegram's "People Nearby" feature has been a social media wildcard for discovering users around you for years, but it's also been a headache for those concerned about their privacy. In recent months, an open-source project has highlighted its risks and reignited the debate about how far it's wise to expose your location. If you are concerned about proximity tracking and doxing, knowing how to disable it and what has changed in the app is key.

It's worth putting this into context: a developer has published "Close-Circuit Telegram Vision" (CCTV), a tool that leverages the official API to list users who have proximity visibility enabled. Although Telegram insists that location accuracy remains within reach, controversy is rife. We'll tell you what this feature does exactly, how to stop being visible, what Telegram claims, and what adjustments it has recently implemented..

What is "People Nearby" and why it can compromise your privacy

"People Nearby" was launched in 2019 to connect with other users and groups in your area without having to exchange phone numbers. In practice, it shows nearby profiles and their approximate distance. Its appeal was meeting new people or joining local groups without friction..

The way it works seems innocuous: the app only shows how many meters away someone is, not their exact location. However, triangulation techniques or sweeps from different points allow for significant refinement of that position, as researchers and third-party tools have demonstrated. Although the app does not draw the exact pin, the estimated area can be reduced with remarkable accuracy..

Telegram emphasizes that visibility is disabled by default and that its API data doesn't return exact coordinates, but rather approximate positions. In its defense, it cites a margin of approximately 800 meters. Still, for those who are not going to use the feature, disabling it completely eliminates the exposure vector..

Another important nuance: if your profile picture is public and you activate the "People Nearby" visibility, people around you will see your image and be able to text you without knowing your number. Managing who can see your photo and last seen reduces the footprint you leave when you make yourself visible..

With There"People Nearby" was also linked to less desirable uses: spam, bots, and fraudulent accounts that hunted for potential victims by proximity. This sustained abuse has weighed heavily on the scales when it comes to rethinking the function.

CCTV: The open-source project that exploits proximity visibility

The most recent trigger has been "Close-Circuit Telegram Vision" (CCTV), a tool published on GitHub by Ivan Glinkin (specialist in ciberseguridad) that connects to the Telegram API to collect data from users with “People Nearby” enabled. The program aggregates that information and allows you to explore locations around the world, not just your immediate surroundings..

The author claims his system offers a precision range of 50 to 100 meters, superior to previous attempts. With CCTV, users can "monitor" activity for logistical or security reasons, according to his description. It is precisely this possibility of near-real-time tracking that has set off privacy alarms..

Telegram, for its part, contradicts the advertised accuracy and emphasizes the greater accuracy margin on its servers. Even so, the controversy revolves less around the exact number of meters than around the ability to identify nearby profiles and trace movement patterns. Monitoring public distancing is one thing; mapping user presence by area and time is quite another..

There are limitations: CCTV doesn't search by username; it only accepts coordinates as input. Based on those coordinates, it returns users within the active visibility area, displaying their usernames and profile photos. That is, it does not locate someone by their alias, but rather lists those who appear visible around a specific point..

The creator posted a demonstration video on YouTube, which was later removed for violating the platform's rules. However, the content remains accessible from the repository. The practical result is that anyone with basic knowledge can reproduce the area scan and view nearby users..

How to turn off People Nearby and check that you're not sharing your location

The good news is that if you've never touched this option, it's most likely still hidden, as it's disabled by default. Still, it's worth checking. In two taps you can see if you are visible and, if so, stop being visible instantly..

En Android, open the Telegram side menu (three-line icon in the top left corner) and go to "People nearby". In iPhone, go to the “Contacts” tab and search for “Find people nearby.” The location of the option varies slightly, but the behavior is the same..

• If you see the "Make me visible" button, visibility is turned off and you are not sharing your location. That state is the safest.
• If, on the other hand, "Hide Me" appears in red, it means you're visible. Tap it to disable the feature immediately. With this gesture you stop being traceable by proximity.
• Your phone may ask for location permissions if you've never granted them; if "Allow access" appears, it's not active. Do not approve the permission if you do not plan to use the feature..

An additional note: if you set your profile picture to be visible only to your contacts, you'll reduce your exposure even if you temporarily turn on visibility one day. The more limited your public information is, the lower the risk..

If you disable "People Nearby" and also remove location permission from Telegram in the system settings, you add an extra layer. It's not strictly necessary to hide yourself, but it does limit the app's access to your coordinates. The general rule is: only permit when needed and for the time required..

Recent news on Telegram: the retired feature and what's next

In the latest major update, Telegram has decided to remove "People Nearby" from the server side. This means that it not only disappears from new versions, but it also stops working even on apps ancient. The measure comes due to the abuse of bots and scammers, and because less than 0,1% of the user base used it..

The company points out that its focus is on reducing harassment, spam, and unwanted tracking. Removing the feature effectively eliminates the possibility of exploiting it on a large scale, as some tools have done. For those who prioritize privacy, it is a decision that suddenly reduces the attack surface..

In parallel, Telegram has announced "Nearby Businesses," an alternative focused on verified businesses that will be able to display catalogs and accept payments. The idea is to replace "people" with "establishments," with verification and controls. It remains local, but with a commercial purpose and less personal exposure..

The changes don't end there. The platform has also restricted Telegraph (its publishing tool) to prevent the upload of new media, citing malicious uses such as phishing. Additionally, they have revised their FAQ to highlight ways to report content that violates rules and have promised to strengthen moderation. The official message insists that it is not a "lawless paradise" and that millions of pieces of harmful content are removed daily..

All of this is happening with Telegram now well over one billion global users, having surpassed the 500 million mark years ago. The more users, the greater the responsibility to protect sensitive functions and prevent abuse..

Extra good practices to protect your account and location

Even if "People Nearby" is disabled or removed, it's a good idea to review a few measures to minimize your exposure. These are quick adjustments that make a difference in your daily life. Small changes in privacy add up to a lot of security.

• Check who can see your profile picture: only your contacts (or no one). Avoid recognizable photos if you opt for public visibility.
• Hide your last connection (“Last seen” and “Online”) from strangers. Reduce the contextual information you give.
• Limit who can add you to groups and channels: contacts and, if necessary, specific exceptions. This is how you avoid unwanted mass invitations.
• Enable two-step verification (2FA) with an additional password and recovery email. Extra protection against account theft.
• Disable background location access for Telegram from the system settings. Permission only when essential.
• Be wary of links and files from unknown sources, even if they appear to be nearby or local. Phishing disguises itself as an approaching opportunity.

If you've ever been interested in meeting people in your area, remember that the safest option is moderated local groups with clear rules. Proximity visibility was convenient, but it concentrated too many incentives for abuse..

More generally, keep in mind that any data you publicly post can be collected and automated by third-party tools. This includes nicknames, photos, descriptions, and messages in public channels. Your best defense is to limit what's public and control who you share what with..

If you are concerned about third-party apps or websites replicating data, periodically review your active sessions in Telegram (Settings > Devices) and closes active sessions that you don't recognize. Deleting unused access reduces risk vectors.

And an important note: while tools like CCTV don't search by username, they do list visible profiles around given coordinates. So, if you don't need that exposure, keep visibility off. Lack of visibility eliminates the problem at its root.

A combination of privacy options, common sense, and periodically reviewing your settings will give you a profile that's much more resistant to prying eyes. Removing "People Nearby" reduces systemic risks, but the day-to-day responsibility remains yours. Less public data means less chance of tracking, and Telegram offers enough tools to achieve this..

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Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.