Telegram Founder Durov Defends User Privacy Against French Encryption Backdoors

French lawmakers recently rejected a proposed law that would have required encrypted messaging apps to install backdoors, which Telegram CEO Pavel Durov and privacy experts warn would severely compromise digital privacy. Durov argues that creating such backdoors cannot be restricted to law enforcement alone and would inevitably be exploited by hackers or foreign agents, jeopardizing the privacy of all users. Despite claims that the measure would combat crime, Durov and others contend that criminals would simply switch to less-regulated platforms and use VPNs, while law-abiding citizens would lose privacy. Telegram has maintained a strict no-backdoor policy, stating it would rather exit a market than compromise encryption, and has never disclosed the content of private messages in its 12-year history. Under current EU regulations, Telegram only provides limited metadata—such as IP addresses and phone numbers—when presented with a valid court order, not message contents. The debate over encryption backdoors continues, with similar proposals resurfacing in France and at the European level.