Pavel Durov's recent message did not go unnoticed, especially since it was not just a personal comment on his birthday, but rather closer to a political-security statement filled with warnings. Between the lines, it was clear that the message was also directed at Telegram users themselves, the platform he founded and which has become known as one of the last digital havens for privacy.
When Durov stated that "what was a promise of free information exchange is now turning into a tool of ultimate control," he was not only describing the state of the internet but also sending a veiled warning that even platforms designed to protect users from surveillance, like Telegram, are now under pressure.
The European Union's legislation on "mass deletion of private messages," Britain's efforts to impose digital identity, and Australia's attempts to enforce age checks are all not left optional for companies; they are imposed by law.
One of Durov's most alarming signals was regarding the future of encryption. When governments talk about "backdoors," it means that encrypted applications will be forced, sooner or later, to create a mechanism that allows access to messages under the pretext of security or protection.
For Telegram users, this means that "secret chats" or "incognito browsing" can no longer be considered an absolute fortress. Even if Durov does not voluntarily choose to provide these backdoors, legal pressures may be imposed on him in a way that makes him unable to resist.
When Durov concluded his message with the phrase "our time is running out," it was not just a dramatic statement. In security terms, this phrase means:
The remaining margin of freedom for applications like Telegram is rapidly narrowing.
The ability of founders and developers to resist individually is shrinking in the face of cross-border legal and security systems.
A user who thinks that installing an encrypted application is enough to protect them is living in an illusion that no longer aligns with the new reality.
The reasonable answer after Durov's message is: Telegram is still relatively safer than many alternatives, but it is no longer an absolute fortress.
Encryption exists, but it is threatened by undermining legislation.
Servers are protected, but they are under pressure from prosecutions and threats.
The platform is independent, but it is besieged in an international environment pushing towards total surveillance.
What Durov is saying between the lines to his users is:
There is no such thing as an absolutely secure application, not even Telegram. The era of secret browsing or messaging as we knew it is nearing its end. Legislation and technical pressures will make any platform subject to surveillance to some degree or another. Security is no longer a technical promise offered by companies, but a burden on individuals and communities to protect themselves with awareness and multiple tools.
An Egyptian programmer and political analyst specializing in security and strategic analysis, interested in human-rights activism and providing technical support to human-rights organizations.
