Pavel Durov says Russia labeled him a terrorist over surveillance demands
Telegram founder Pavel Durov claimed Russian authorities designated him a terrorist after he refused to implement mass surveillance and censorship on the messaging platform.
Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, announced that Russian officials have designated him a “terrorist” following his refusal to comply with the government’s demands for mass surveillance and censorship on the platform.
In a statement, Durov said, “Russian officials are clearly confused about who can ban whom from the Internet.”
The move highlights ongoing tensions between the messaging service and Russian authorities, who have previously attempted to block Telegram in the country. The designation comes as Telegram increasingly integrates with the crypto ecosystem through its TON blockchain network.
Source: Cointelegraph