Key Takeaways
- Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, has claimed the app would rather pull out of a country than build backdoors into its encryption.
- The comments come as lawmakers and privacy advocates clash across the globe over backdoor access into leading social media applications.
- Durov believes creating law enforcement-only backdoors will open up the hatch for bad actors.
In a Telegram post on Monday, April 21, Telegram founder Pavel Durov reaffirmed his commitment to encryption, following renewed pressure from the French government to introduce backdoor access into major messaging platforms.
A long-time advocate for digital privacy, Durov stated that Telegram would rather exit a market than “undermine encryption with backdoors.”
Durov Defends Telegram Encryption
Last month, the French Senate passed a provision that would have required leading messaging apps to implement backdoors, granting law enforcement access to encrypted communications.
Although the National Assembly ultimately rejected the measure, the debate resurfaced recently when the Paris Police Prefect called for its reconsideration.
In his Telegram post, Durov praised the National Assembly’s decision, saying France narrowly avoided becoming “the first country in the world to strip its citizens of their right to privacy.”
He pointed out that even countries “many Europeans view as lacking in freedoms” have not banned encryption.
Concerns Over Backdoors
Durov argued that it is “technically impossible” to create a backdoor that only law enforcement can access.
“Once introduced, a backdoor can be exploited by others—from foreign agents to hackers,” he wrote. “As a result, the private messages of all law-abiding citizens can be compromised.”
He also noted that such legislation would not effectively curb criminal activity since bad actors could simply switch to smaller, less visible platforms with strong encryption.
“This is why, as I’ve said before, Telegram would rather exit a market than undermine encryption with backdoors and violate basic human rights,” he stated.
Taking aim at competitors, Durov added: “Unlike some of our competitors, we don’t trade privacy for market share.”
Privacy Debates
In his post, Durov emphasized how he believed lawmakers needed continued education on the importance of encryption.
“Last month, freedom prevailed,” Durov wrote. “But it was a reminder: we must keep explaining to lawmakers that encryption isn’t built to protect criminals — it protects the privacy and safety of ordinary people.”
The debate over encryption is not limited to France. Governments around the world continue to grapple with the tension between national security and individual privacy.
Durov also addressed the European Commission’s recent ProtectEU initiative, which proposes a roadmap for lawful access to encrypted data by 2026.
“The battle is far from over,” he wrote. “No country is immune to the slow erosion of freedoms. Every day, those freedoms come under attack — and every day, we must defend them.”
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
