Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, confirmed that the company has never disclosed private messages to third parties.
Truth Unfiltered:
Telegram's boss, Pavel Durov, has made it crystal clear that his messaging platform ain't giving up a single byte of private messages to anyone. This hard-nosed stance is in response to the EU's Digital Services Act, which might force Telegram to hand over suspects' IP addresses and phone numbers if there's a valid court order. But the messages themselves? Forget about it.
Durov has declared war on any attempts to compromise Telegram's encryption, even if it means leaving the market. He's adamant about preserving privacy and staying true to his values rather than chasing market share.
Remember that time France tried to force a "backdoor" into messengers? Yep, that was a real mess. The law aimed to give authorities access to user conversations. Thankfully, it got shot down by the National Assembly. If it had passed, France would have been the first country to ditch encryption, putting not just users but also cybersecurity at risk.
In August 2024, Durov felt the full force of the law, getting nabbed at Le Bourget airport. He spent some time in a French jail before being slapped with a €5 million bail and ordered to check in with the cops twice a week. The judge hit him with charges for six out of the twelve allegations, including the refusal to provide investigators with required info for legal intercepts.
As I type this, Durov's back in Dubai, but the French are still hot on his heels. The investigation into his case is far from over.
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Quick Look:
- Durov states Telegram won't reveal private messages under court order.
- He declared war on compromising encryption and protecting privacy.
- France tried to force a "backdoor" into messengers, but it was shot down.
- Durov was arrested in 2024 for alleged criminal activity facilitation and data refusal.
- The case is ongoing, with Durov under judicial supervision and banned from leaving France.
[1] "France Pushes for Backdoors in Encrypted Messaging Apps" - The Verge[2] "Pavel Durov Arrested in France for Alleged Criminal Activities" - TechCrunch[3] "Pavel Durov Vows to Leave Market if Forced to Break Encryption" - Wired[4] "Investigation of Pavel Durov and Telegram Continues in France" - Reuters
- Amidst the ongoing legal battle, telegram's technology remains unyielding to general-news outlets' requests for user data, echoing Pavel Durov's stance against compromising the messaging platform's encryption.
- In the world of sports, one could draw a parallel between Pavel Durov's relentless fight for Telegram's privacy and a dedicated athlete's commitment to their sport, neither willing to bow down without a fight.
