Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has warned starkly about the growing threats to personal messaging in France and European Union (EU) countries. Durov declared that Telegram would sooner exit these markets than compromise user privacy by implementing encryption backdoors.
According to blockchain media outlet Cointelegraph, Durov highlighted on Monday that the EU is showing alarming signs of introducing backdoors to weaken encryption. This move would effectively allow governments to bypass encryption safeguards and gain access to user data.
Durov revealed that French and EU lawmakers are pressuring messaging platforms like Telegram to introduce backdoors. He stated firmly that Telegram would withdraw from the market rather than compromise its encryption or violate fundamental human rights. He further emphasized that, unlike some competitors, the company refuses to alter its privacy policies merely to expand market share.
The Telegram CEO also raised a critical concern about encryption backdoors, warning that they aren’t exclusively accessible to law enforcement but are also vulnerable to hackers and foreign actors. Durov cautioned that it is technically impossible to guarantee that only police can access these entry points, emphasizing the serious risk that user messages could be easily compromised.