Russia accuses Telegram founder of aiding terrorism in its latest online crackdown
Russian authorities have charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, alleging the platform is used for sabotage and recruitment by foreign intelligence. Durov maintains that the actions are a pretext to suppress privacy and free speech.
Why it matters
The conflict underscores the escalating tension between authoritarian governments and encrypted messaging platforms regarding national security and digital surveillance.
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, says the Russian actions against him are an attempt to suppress privacy and free speech./Getty Images Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, says the Russian actions against him are an attempt to suppress privacy and free speech./Getty Images Telegram Russia accuses Telegram founder of aiding terrorism in its latest online crackdown FSB puts Pavel Durov on international wanted lists and says his messaging app is used for sabotage and murder
Prefer the Guardian on Google Russian officials have charged Pavel Durov , the founder and chief executive of the messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism.
The charges against the 41-year-old Russian-born billionaire , who lives in the Gulf, are the latest step by the Kremlin to bring the internet and digital communications under its control after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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