Russia targets Telegram as rift with founder Pavel Durov deepens - FT
TL;DR
Russia escalates pressure on Telegram, launching a criminal probe against founder Pavel Durov over alleged terrorism ties and encryption breaches. The conflict involves financial sanctions and service disruptions, highlighting geopolitical tensions and risks for the app's global users and investors.
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Russia targets Telegram as rift with founder Pavel Durov deepens - FT
Russia Intensifies Pressure on Telegram Amid Escalating Tensions with Founder Pavel Durov
Russia has escalated its campaign against the messaging app Telegram, announcing a criminal investigation into its founder, Pavel Durov, over alleged ties to terrorism and hybrid threats. State media cited the Federal Security Service in accusing Telegram of facilitating "terrorist activities" and serving as a tool for NATO and Ukraine. The move follows months of efforts to restrict Telegram's influence, including throttling its services and promoting a state-backed alternative, Max.
The Russian government alleges that Telegram's encryption has been compromised by foreign intelligence, enabling surveillance of Russian military communications. Telegram has dismissed these claims, stating no breaches of its encryption have been confirmed. Meanwhile, Russia's bond freeze on Telegram-linked assets— estimated at $500 million—signals a broader strategy to undermine the platform's financial resilience.
Geopolitical tensions underscore the conflict. Ukrainian officials have linked Telegram to the recruitment of pro-Russian militants, with President Volodymyr Zelensky's deputy, Iryna Vereshchuk, urging restrictions on the platform to curb terrorist coordination. Ukraine previously restricted Telegram for government and military personnel in 2024, citing its use in cyberattacks and data exploitation.
Durov, a vocal critic of Russian and French regulatory pressures, has positioned Telegram as a defender of privacy and free speech. However, Russia's clampdown mirrors China-style digital surveillance ambitions, as outlined by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The app's 1 billion global users face fragmented access, with Russian users reporting outages and slowed services.
For investors, the standoff highlights risks in tech markets amid geopolitical volatility. Telegram's financial stability and operational reach remain under scrutiny as regulatory battles intensify. The outcome could reshape messaging app dynamics in conflict zones and influence investor confidence in privacy-focused platforms.
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