Pavel Durov Vows to Leave France Instead of Implementing Backdoors in Encryption Systems
The European Union and France Continue to Weaken Encryption Despite Criticism from Digital Rights Advocates
Durov Calls for the Defense of Encryption as a Fundamental Right Amid Growing Security Concerns
Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, emerges as an unwavering advocate for digital privacy as the European Union pushes forward with initiatives to weaken encryption in private communications. In a message posted on his personal channel and on X, Durov announced that Telegram would not hesitate to leave certain markets, including France, rather than compromise the security of user exchanges.
At the heart of Durov’s concerns is the growing desire of European authorities to impose backdoors that would allow the police to access encrypted messages. While touted as a tool to fight crime, the Telegram chief denounces it as a major risk to global digital security.
“It is technically impossible to create a backdoor that only police can access,” he warns. A loophole introduced in the name of the law could be exploited by hackers or foreign agents, exposing all users to malicious intrusion.
Telegram proudly stands as a bastion of privacy since its inception. Durov emphasizes that despite pressure and legal obligations in certain countries, the platform has never shared any private message content. Under the European Digital Services Act, Telegram only agrees to provide the IP addresses and phone numbers of suspects identified by the judiciary, never the messages themselves.
This stance directly opposes that of other major tech companies, which Durov implicitly accuses of sacrificing privacy for commercial growth.
Intrusive Legislation in France and Europe
While a recent legislative attempt in France to allow hidden access to private messages was rejected, the battle is far from over. The European Commission continues its offensive with the ProtectEU project, unveiled in April, which aims to develop technical solutions for legal access to encrypted data by 2026.
This project, presented as a cybersecurity protection tool, has sparked outrage among many digital rights advocates. European Parliament member Aura Salla has particularly criticized an initiative that “fundamentally undermines the very principles that ProtectEU claims to defend.”
In this tense context, Pavel Durov himself is facing legal action in France. Accused of enabling the use of Telegram for illicit transactions, he faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of $550,000. According to some observers, this judicial case may be part of a broader strategy to weaken the application’s resistance.
For Durov, the question goes beyond the technological framework: “No country is immune to the gradual erosion of liberties. Every day, these liberties are under attack, and every day, we must defend them.” He calls on citizens to raise their voices to institutions and promote encryption not as a tool for criminals, but as an essential defense of individual freedom.
Telegram thus becomes a symbol of resistance against France and Europe, which, in the name of security, seem increasingly tempted to restrict the confidentiality of communications.
