Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Slams France for EU Chat-Control Push

TLDR:

• Pavel Durov says France led an EU push to make apps scan private chats, calling it a threat to user privacy.
• Telegram notified French users after a near-ban on encrypted messaging was halted by Germany’s late opposition.
• The proposed Chat Control law aimed to combat crime but exempted government communications from scanning.
• Durov claims criminals would evade detection using VPNs while ordinary citizens faced total message exposure.
  

---

A quiet vote in the European Union nearly turned every smartphone into a surveillance device. Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, warned users that France had led an effort to force messaging platforms to scan all private communications. 

The proposed law, called Chat Control, risked dismantling digital privacy across the bloc. It would have required platforms to inspect photos, files, and texts for illegal content. The plan stalled only after Germany opposed it at the last moment, stopping what Durov described as an “authoritarian measure.”

In a message shared on his official @durov channel, Telegram said it alerted all French users about the privacy threat. The post accused French leaders of pushing a law that would treat every citizen as a suspect. 

According to Durov, both former and current interior ministers, Bruno Retailleau and Laurent Nuñez, supported the proposal. Their argument centered on protecting citizens from online crime, but the enforcement method drew heavy criticism from privacy advocates.

Crypto Users See Privacy at Risk

The crypto community has long viewed encrypted messaging as essential for protecting communication around decentralized projects. Investors and developers often coordinate over private channels to avoid leaks or phishing. 

Telegram, widely used in crypto circles, has grown into a central hub for trading communities and token discussions. A mandate to scan private chats would expose sensitive project data, investor conversations, and even wallet details.

Analysts said privacy is not only a human right but a foundation of financial sovereignty in digital economies. Durov argued that true criminals would still bypass detection through VPNs or offshore servers. 

Meanwhile, law-abiding users would face unprecedented exposure of personal content. The law, he said, even exempted officials’ messages from surveillance, creating two tiers of privacy.

Germany’s Move Halts EU Vote but Concerns Linger

Germany’s last-minute refusal to support the vote prevented the Chat Control regulation from passing this week. That decision, Durov said, “defended Europe’s digital rights” but only temporarily. 

The debate is far from over, with France expected to continue lobbying for new surveillance powers. Critics warned that if the measure returns, encrypted communication tools like Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp could face compliance barriers or risk removal from EU markets.

Durov urged users to remain aware of policies threatening encryption. For crypto traders and builders, he said, the right to private communication is tied directly to innovation and financial freedom. The source of this report is Pavel Durov’s public Telegram statement on October 13, 2025.

The post Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Slams France for EU Chat-Control Push appeared first on Blockonomi.