Telegram, the popular messaging app, has made it clear that it will never allow anyone to read users’ private chats. Its founder, Pavel Durov, recently said that if any government forces the app to break its privacy rules, Telegram will simply stop operating in that country.
Durov shared this message with users through his official Telegram channel on April 21, 2025. He said that, unlike some other tech companies, Telegram refuses to trade privacy for profit. Since it started 12 years ago, the app has never given out private messages to anyone.
This strong response comes after many European countries, especially France, have been pushing for laws that would give police and other authorities access to encrypted messages. Encrypted chats are protected by special codes that make it difficult for anyone else to read them. Governments want tech companies to build “backdoors” — hidden ways to unlock these messages — so law enforcement can look into criminal activities.
France had even proposed a new rule that would force apps like Telegram to help authorities unlock private data when asked. However, this idea was recently turned down. If it had passed, France would have been the first country to remove such privacy rights from its citizens.
Cybersecurity experts say adding backdoors to messaging apps is dangerous. If one group can access these hidden tools, so can others — including hackers or foreign governments. Once security is weakened, it can’t be limited to just one user or one case.
Durov also mentioned that creating backdoors won’t stop criminals. He explained that people with bad intentions will always find other ways to hide, such as using VPNs or less-known secure apps.
In August 2024, French officials arrested Durov and accused him of providing encrypted services to criminals. That case is still being investigated.
Even though the recent proposal was blocked in France, Durov believes that the fight for digital privacy is not over. Some French officials are still in favor of breaking encryption, and other countries, like Sweden, are thinking about passing similar laws by 2026.
The European Union is also working on a plan called ProtectEU, which aims to give authorities more power to access private data. Outside of Europe, the US state of Florida is considering a rule that would make social media apps used by children include encryption backdoors.
Switzerland, a country known for its strong privacy laws, may also change its rules and allow more surveillance. Apple has already removed end-to-end encryption for its iCloud service in the UK under pressure from the government.
Telegram, however, continues to stand its ground. The company says that if it must choose between following such rules or keeping users safe, it will walk away from that market — no matter the cost.