Will Telegram Crack Down on Privacy Issues? Lawyer Says Yes
Date: 2024-09-17 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: BUSINESS
In April, Pavel Durov called for the creation of communication devices with a level of security similar to crypto wallets. In an interview with Tucker Carlson, the Telegram founder said this would help protect users’ data from government surveillance.
Durov’s emphasis on protecting users’ chats from government interference foreshadowed his legal troubles after his arrest by French authorities in late August. Analysts say Durov’s ongoing legal battle with the French government puts users’ privacy at risk and sets a dangerous precedent for other social media platforms and their owners.
Daria Lysenko, a crypto lawyer at the law firm SBSB, says the regulatory environment is changing, and companies like Telegram may be forced to comply with government requests for access to users’ personal information.
“Governments around the world are introducing stricter data laws, especially in relation to terrorism, financial crime, and money laundering,” Lysenko told Cryptonews.
“For example, the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), as well as other regulations such as the CLOUD Act in the US, are increasing pressure on tech companies to cooperate with governments on the transfer of user data,” she added.
Telegram’s censorship-resistant policy
Durov was arrested at an airport near Paris on August 24. The Russian-born billionaire faces a slew of charges, including complicity in drug trafficking, distribution of child pornography, fraud, money laundering, and illegal provision of cryptographic services.
Durov is currently out on €5 million ($5.5 million) bail. Telegram, which is used by almost a billion people worldwide, is known for its privacy and security. Durov regularly emphasizes the platform’s resistance to censorship and has promised to maintain this status quo despite pressure from authorities.
According to information on Telegram’s website, the company’s servers are scattered around the world. This allows the platform to “ensure that no government or bloc of like-minded people can interfere with people’s privacy and freedom of expression,” the company’s website explains.
However, the messenger has often found itself in the crosshairs of regulators due to its liberal content moderation policies. For example, in 2023, Brazil temporarily banned Telegram after the company refused to disclose data allegedly linked to neo-Nazi groups following violent attacks on schools.
In 2014, a year after Telegram was founded, Durov was forced to leave Russia after the FSB reportedly pressured him to sell his stake in the platform. A Moscow court later banned Telegram after the company refused to hand over encryption keys to the security service.
Today, Telegram is one of the most popular social platforms in Russia. The military uses the service to coordinate military actions, and citizens use it to obtain unbiased information.
Analyst: "Telegram's situation remains uncertain"
According to Daria Lysenko, a lawyer at SBSB, the situation with Telegram remains complicated. She expects the platform "to be forced to make some changes to its policies and spend more resources to combat illegal content."
At the same time, Lysenko does not believe that Telegram will "completely capitulate" to government pressure, as Facebook did. But it is possible that the service "will take a more selective approach to compliance with regulatory standards," she told Cryptonews.
Recent reports in the French media suggest that Telegram has already made concessions. According to the newspaper Libération, the messenger has begun to transfer user data to the Office for Minors (Ofmin) of the French National Police and Gendarmerie. This data should help law enforcement identify suspects involved in crimes against children, the report says.
