Telegram CEO Threatens EU Exit Over Encryption Backdoors

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has voiced significant concerns over the escalating threats to private messaging in France and other European Union countries. He warned that Telegram would rather withdraw from certain markets than implement encryption backdoors, which would compromise user privacy. In an April 21 post on his “Du Rove’s channel” on Telegram, Durov expressed alarm over the EU’s increasing efforts to weaken messaging encryption by adding backdoors, a method that would allow authorities to bypass encryption and access private user data.

Durov cited initiatives from French and EU lawmakers to require messaging apps like Telegram to implement backdoors for police access. He emphasized Telegram’s unwavering commitment to digital privacy, stating, “Telegram would rather exit a market than undermine encryption with backdoors and violate basic human rights.” He added, “Unlike some of our competitors, we don’t trade privacy for market share.”

Durov highlighted that the biggest problem with encryption backdoors is their accessibility not only to authorities but also to hackers and foreign agents. “It’s technically impossible to guarantee that only the police can access a backdoor,” Durov said, noting that backdoors would put users’ private messages at risk of being compromised. He also pointed out that criminals would likely turn to lesser-known apps and use virtual private networks (VPNs) to avoid detection, rendering such regulations ineffective.

Durov clarified that while Telegram complies with valid court orders in some jurisdictions, such as disclosing IP addresses and phone numbers found to be involved in criminal activity, it has never exposed any private messages. “In its 12-year history, Telegram has never disclosed a single byte of private messages. 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.”

Durov urged privacy advocates to continue communicating with lawmakers and promote encryption as a tool for protecting privacy and safety for ordinary people, rather than viewing it as a criminal tool. “Losing that protection would be tragic,” Durov said. Although the French National Assembly rejected a proposal to allow hidden access to private messages in March, Durov noted that the EU’s war on digital privacy is far from over.

Durov cited the European Commission’s “ProtectEU” proposal from early April, which aims to find “technological solutions to enable lawful access to data by law enforcement authorities in 2026.” This proposal has been heavily criticized by digital privacy advocates and some European lawmakers. Finnish MEP Aura Salla suggested that introducing encryption backdoors “fundamentally undermines the very cybersecurity principles ProtectEU aims to uphold.”

Durov’s warning about threats to privacy and freedom in the EU comes amid an ongoing legal case in France against the Telegram CEO. The case centers around allegations of facilitating a platform that enables illicit transactions. According to French prosecutors, Durov faces up to 10 years of prison time in addition to a $550,000 fine if convicted.