Defending privacy with an unwavering stance, messaging giant Telegram has declared it will exit entire markets rather than compromise on encryption. The platform’s CEO Pavel Durov made this bold announcement in April 2025, emphasizing that user privacy and basic human rights take precedence over market share or profit margins.
Durov’s declaration comes amid mounting pressure from European authorities, particularly in France where lawmakers recently debated legislation requiring messaging apps to include “backdoors” for police access. Though the French National Assembly ultimately rejected this bill in March 2025, similar initiatives continue gaining traction, including the European Commission’s “ProtectEU” proposal aimed at implementing “technological solutions” for authorities by 2026.
The controversy centers on a technical dilemma that’s a bit like building a house with a secret door that only the “good guys” can find. Sounds great in theory, but as security experts point out, there’s no such thing as a backdoor that only lets in the police while keeping out hackers, spies, and other digital troublemakers. Once you poke a hole in encryption, it’s vulnerable to everyone. Telegram’s platform relies on asymmetric encryption to secure communications between users, maintaining the integrity of its cryptosystem.
Encryption backdoors are like secret house keys—once created, they can fall into anyone’s hands, not just the authorities.
Telegram has maintained a consistent position on user privacy throughout its 12-year history, never disclosing private message content despite growing regulatory pressure. The platform does comply with the EU Digital Services Act by sharing limited data like IP addresses and phone numbers of criminal suspects when presented with valid court orders.
This hardline position follows Durov’s arrest in France in August 2024, where he faced charges related to criminal activities allegedly facilitated on Telegram. The Paris Police Prefect has been particularly vocal, repeatedly advocating for backdoors despite widespread criticism from cybersecurity experts. Despite pledging changes to moderation policies since then, the company refuses to budge on encryption fundamentals. Privacy advocates warn that the slow erosion of freedoms often begins with seemingly reasonable security measures that gradually undermine fundamental rights.
Durov argues that backdoors would prove ineffective against determined criminals, who would simply migrate to smaller, more secure apps while leaving law-abiding citizens exposed. This principled stance sets Telegram apart from competitors who might compromise privacy for continued market access.
