Telegram founder Pavel Durov has spoken out against the French government’s attempt to ban encryption, calling it a serious threat to digital privacy. In a recent statement, Durov revealed that French lawmakers had considered passing a bill that would require messaging apps to include backdoors for law enforcement access to private messages. He commended the National Assembly for blocking the legislation, warning that it would have violated citizens’ rights to digital privacy.
Durov argued that the introduction of backdoors into messaging apps would weaken security rather than enhance it. He pointed out that such backdoors could be exploited by anyone, including foreign governments and cyber criminals, putting law-abiding citizens at risk of having their messages intercepted or leaked. Durov also noted that criminals would simply migrate to smaller, more secure apps or use VPNs to avoid detection, rendering the legislation ineffective in combating illegal activities.
The Telegram founder made it clear that the platform would prioritize protecting its encryption standards and respecting human rights over compromising for any government. He highlighted Telegram’s track record of never sharing private messages with any government in its 12-year history, only providing limited data with a valid court order as required by the EU Digital Services Act. Durov emphasized that encryption is a fundamental right that safeguards the privacy of ordinary people and should not be viewed as a tool for criminals.
In conclusion, Durov warned that the battle to defend encryption is far from over, citing the European Commission’s proposal to add backdoors to messaging apps as another concerning initiative. He urged lawmakers to recognize encryption as a crucial defense of individual freedoms and privacy, rather than a threat that needs to be regulated. Durov stressed the importance of preserving the right to digital privacy in the face of increasing government surveillance efforts.
