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Telegram Threatens To Leave France In Response To Government Pressure To Create Backdoors That Would Compromise User Privacy
The conflict between French authorities and encrypted messaging platforms intensified this week. Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, announced on Tuesday that the app might leave the French market. The decision would be made if the government insists on requiring the creation of backdoors in the service.
A Direct Response To Government Requests
In a message sent to the community, Durov was categorical: “allowing the police to access private conversations without notifying users is out of the question. Telegram prefers to withdraw from France than compromise encryption and violate fundamental human rights“, he stated.
The statement came after comments from the Police Prefect of Paris, Laurent Nuñez. Last week, Nuñez stated that Telegram had become the main means of communication among drug traffickers. Therefore, he advocated for a more intense collaboration between the platform and French intelligence services.
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The authorities want Telegram to create hidden access points. The proposal would allow private messages to be read in judicial investigations. Even while providing data such as IP addresses and phone numbers in some cases, the company refuses to disclose the content of encrypted messages.
Security Risks Pointed Out By Telegram
For Durov, creating a backdoor, even if only for investigations, would jeopardize the entire security ecosystem of the platform. An access point, according to him, would not be restricted to French authorities. Hackers, foreign states, and cybercriminals could also exploit it.
The CEO emphasized that the measure would harm the privacy of law-abiding citizens. “Once implemented, a backdoor can be exploited by other entities,” Durov warned. He also highlighted that companies like Apple share this concern for security.
Durov further argued that creating loopholes would not achieve its intended goal. According to him, organized criminals would quickly migrate to smaller platforms or use VPNs to encrypt their networks. Thus, investigations would become even more difficult for authorities.
Encryption Under Debate In Europe
The French case occurs amid a broader debate across Europe. In March 2025, an amendment to drug legislation proposed mandatory backdoors in services like Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Although the proposal was rejected by the National Assembly, it had already passed through the Senate.
According to Durov, France almost banned encryption in the country last month. The proposal was rejected just before its final approval, which, according to him, averted a dangerous scenario for the privacy of citizens.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, the European Commission announced on April 1 the launch of an action plan on encryption. The aim is to develop a solution that balances public security and personal data protection. A roadmap is expected to be presented by 2026.
Telegram Maintains Firm Position
For Telegram, the privacy of its users is non-negotiable. With over 800 million users worldwide, the platform reiterates that it will leave the French market if its principles are compromised. The outcome of this clash could represent a turning point for the future of encryption in Europe.
With information from Jason Deegan.
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