Michaela
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has raised alarms over growing threats to private messaging in France and the EU, stating the platform would rather exit these markets than compromise user privacy with encryption backdoors.
On April 21, Durov shared a message on his Telegram channel, “Du Rove’s Channel,” addressing the European Union’s escalating attempts to undermine messaging encryption. He criticized proposals to introduce backdoors, which would enable authorities to bypass encryption and gain access to private user data.
“Last month, France nearly banned encryption. A law requiring messaging apps to implement a backdoor for police access to private messages was passed by the Senate,” Durov wrote. “Luckily, it was shot down by the National Assembly. Yet 3 days ago the Paris Police Prefect advocated for it again,” he added.
Durov noted the technical impossibility of ensuring that only law enforcement could access a backdoor once it’s implemented. He warned that such a backdoor could be exploited by malicious actors, including foreign agents or hackers, putting the private messages of all users—law-abiding or otherwise—at risk.
“Aimed at preventing drug trafficking, the law wouldn’t have helped fight crime anyway. Even if mainstream encrypted apps had been weakened by a backdoor, criminals could still communicate securely through dozens of smaller apps — and become even harder to trace due to VPNs,” Durov wrote.
Durov emphasized that Telegram would choose to leave a market rather than compromise its encryption by implementing backdoors, which he argued would violate fundamental human rights. He also noted that, unlike some competitors, Telegram refuses to trade user privacy for the sake of expanding its market presence.
“In it’s 12-year history, Telegram has never disclosed a single byte of private messages,” Durov shared. “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 added.
Additionally, Durov urged privacy advocates to remain vocal and continue lobbying lawmakers to preserve the integrity of encryption. Durov emphasized that encryption serves as a vital tool for protecting the privacy and safety of ordinary people, not just as a safeguard for criminals. “Losing that protection would be tragic,” Durov warned.
The Telegram CEO also pointed to the European Commission’s “ProtectEU” proposal, unveiled in early April, which outlines plans to develop “technological solutions” aimed at granting law enforcement authorities lawful access to private data by 2026.
As the debate around digital privacy intensifies across Europe, Durov’s call to action emphasizes the ongoing struggle to balance security with individual rights in the digital age.
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Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
