Telegram Warns Users in France of Privacy Risks
Date: 2025-10-17 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: BUSINESS
Telegram has sent a message to French users warning of privacy threats related to the Chat Control initiative, according to the messaging app's founder, Pavel Durov. According to him, the European Union is preparing to pass a law that would require apps to scan all personal messages, turning users' smartphones into surveillance tools.
Durov noted that France was one of the main sponsors of the bill. The initiative was supported by both the current and former interior ministers, Laurent Nunes and Bruno Retailleau, who had previously spoken about the need to grant police access to citizens' personal messages.
Telegram's founder emphasized that, despite the stated goal of fighting crime, the Chat Control law will not impact actual criminals. They will be able to bypass restrictions through VPNs or specialized platforms, while ordinary users will be at risk of having their personal information, including messages and photos, compromised.
Durov added that Germany's position helped temporarily block the bill's passage, but the threat to privacy remains as long as European leaders, particularly French officials, continue to insist on full access to personal data.
Earlier, in April 2025, Pavel Durov announced Telegram's possible withdrawal from the EU market due to threats to user privacy. This new warning continues the company's efforts to protect the personal data of its users in Europe and calls for public attention to digital privacy issues.
Thus, the situation with Chat Control demonstrates the growing tension between the need to combat crime and protect citizens' privacy rights in the digital environment. Telegram continues to actively inform users and draw attention to the potential consequences of new legislative initiatives.
