No Backdoors, No Compromise: Telegram’s Durov Defends Encryption Against France and the EU

🔐 France Tried to Ban Encryption — And Nearly Got Away With It

Telegram founder Pavel Durov isn’t known for public rants — but this one hit different.

In a sharp post on his Telegram channel, Durov called out France for almost becoming the first country to legally kill end-to-end encryption. A bill passed by the French Senate would have forced all messaging apps to implement backdoors — direct access for law enforcement to read private chats.

Thankfully, the National Assembly rejected the bill, but Durov made it clear:

"France nearly became the first country to legally strip its citizens of encrypted communication. Even countries with fewer freedoms haven’t gone that far."

🧨 Backdoors Don’t Work — They Break Everything

Proponents claimed the backdoor law would fight drug trafficking and organized crime. Durov called that a dangerous fantasy.

“Once a backdoor exists, it’s not just for cops. It’s open season for hackers, hostile states, and cybercriminals.”

Even if Telegram or Signal were forced to break encryption, criminals would simply use other apps or go dark behind VPNs. Meanwhile, everyone else — journalists, activists, and regular users — gets thrown under the surveillance bus.

🚪 Telegram’s Line in the Sand: Privacy or Nothing

Durov didn’t mince words:

"Telegram would rather exit a market than weaken encryption. We won’t betray our users."

That’s not just talk. Telegram’s 12-year record is spotless — it has never disclosed private message content to any government. And under the EU’s new Digital Services Act, Telegram only shares metadata (like IPs or phone numbers) when ordered by a court.

In contrast, Durov hinted that other tech giants might cave under regulatory pressure — trading your privacy for market access.

🇪🇺 EU Wants a Europe-Wide Backdoor Next

France’s encryption attack may have failed, but the European Commission is already cooking up its own version — a sweeping proposal to enforce backdoors across the entire EU.

“No country is immune to the slow erosion of freedoms,” Durov warned. “Every day, those freedoms come under attack — and every day, we must defend them.”

This isn’t just a France problem. It’s a continental pressure campaign that threatens to reshape digital privacy in Europe — and far beyond.

🧠 TL;DR

• France’s Senate passed a bill to force backdoors into messaging apps — the Assembly blocked it, barely
• Durov says it would’ve made France the first country to kill encryption by law
• Telegram says it will exit markets rather than compromise privacy
• The EU is considering a broader anti-encryption measure now
• Durov’s message: weakening encryption helps no one — and endangers everyone

This isn’t just a fight for privacy. It’s a fight for the digital soul of Europe. And for now, Telegram’s not backing down.