Telegram CEO says privacy matters more than market share

Despite some legislative setbacks, the EU’s push for encryption backdoors is ongoing, warns Telegram’s Pavel Durov.

Pavel Durov warns Telegram would exit markets rather than compromise on user privacy by implementing encryption backdoors.

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has vowed that the company would rather exit markets like France than implement encryption backdoors.

Lawmakers in the European Union are increasingly proposing backdoors that would allow authorities to bypass encryption. These backdoors would grant access to private messages.

Durov’s statement comes as Telegram faces mounting pressure to comply with regulations that could undermine digital privacy.

In a recent post, Durov emphasised that backdoors, while intended for law enforcement, could be exploited by hackers and foreign agents. He warned that such measures would not only put user data at risk but also drive criminals to use lesser-known apps to avoid detection.

Telegram has long been committed to safeguarding its users’ privacy. It has never disclosed private messages to authorities, even when complying with court orders in certain jurisdictions.

Durov’s comments come at a time when the EU is proposing legislation that could force apps to implement backdoors for police access. Despite some progress, the fight for digital privacy continues.

Durov urges privacy advocates to resist these changes. He stresses that losing encryption would be a major blow to personal safety and freedom.

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