According to Cointelegraph, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has voiced significant concerns regarding the increasing threat to private messaging in France and other European Union countries. He warned that Telegram might withdraw from certain markets rather than compromise user privacy by implementing encryption backdoors. In a post dated April 21 on his Telegram channel, Durov expressed alarm over the EU's efforts to weaken messaging encryption by introducing backdoors, which would allow authorities to bypass encryption and access private user data. Durov emphasized Telegram's dedication to digital privacy, citing initiatives from French and EU lawmakers that would require messaging apps like Telegram to implement backdoors for police access. He stated, "Telegram would rather exit a market than undermine encryption with backdoors and violate basic human rights," and criticized competitors who trade privacy for market share.
Durov highlighted the risks associated with encryption backdoors, noting that they could be exploited not only by authorities but also by hackers and foreign agents. He explained, "It's technically impossible to guarantee that only the police can access a backdoor," warning that such measures would compromise users' private messages. He further noted that criminals might resort to lesser-known apps and use virtual private networks (VPNs) to evade detection, rendering such regulations ineffective. Despite complying with valid court orders in some jurisdictions, Telegram has never disclosed private messages. Durov stated, "In its 12-year history, Telegram has never disclosed a single byte of private messages. In accordance with the EU Digital Services Act, if provided with a valid court order, Telegram would only disclose the IP addresses and phone numbers of criminal suspects — not messages." He urged privacy advocates to continue engaging with lawmakers to promote encryption as a tool for protecting privacy and safety for ordinary people, rather than viewing it as a criminal tool.
Although the French National Assembly rejected a proposal to allow hidden access to private messages in March, Durov warned that the EU's battle against digital privacy is far from over. He referenced the European Commission's "ProtectEU" proposal from early April, which aims to find "technological solutions to enable lawful access to data by law enforcement authorities in 2026." The proposal has faced criticism from digital privacy advocates and some European lawmakers, with Finnish MEP Aura Salla arguing that introducing encryption backdoors "fundamentally undermines the very cybersecurity principles ProtectEU aims to uphold." Durov concluded by stating, "No country is immune to the slow erosion of freedoms. Every day, those freedoms come under attack — and every day, we must defend them." His warning about threats to privacy and freedom in the EU coincides with an ongoing legal case in France against him, centered around allegations of facilitating a platform that enables illicit transactions. French prosecutors have indicated that Durov could face up to 10 years in prison and a $550,000 fine if convicted.
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