Telegram has issued a privacy alert to users in France, warning of potential risks tied to a new EU legislative proposal that could mandate surveillance of private messages. The initiative, known as Chat Control, has gained support from several French officials, including Laurent Nuñez and Bruno Retailleau.
In a post, Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticized the proposal, claiming it represents a near-total ban on digital privacy within the European Union. According to him, the law would force messaging apps to scan all private communications, effectively turning smartphones into “surveillance devices.”
Durov noted that France has been one of the key backers of this legislation, with both current and former interior ministers advocating for full access to citizens’ messages. They argue the measure is necessary to fight crime and terrorism.
However, Durov dismissed this justification, stating that real criminals can easily bypass such surveillance using VPNs or specialized encrypted tools, while ordinary citizens would lose their right to privacy. He also pointed out that government officials and law enforcement communications would remain exempt from the proposed scanning requirements.
“Only you — regular citizens — will face the risk of your private messages and photos being compromised,” Durov emphasized.
He added that Germany’s sudden opposition to the bill temporarily blocked its approval. Nevertheless, he warned that the threat to privacy persists, as French and other European leaders continue pushing for unrestricted access to personal data.
Earlier, in April 2025, Durov had warned that Telegram might withdraw from the EU market if the bloc continued its push for invasive data legislation.
