Telegram’s CEO Slams Spain’s New Age-Verification Law: Privacy Clash Goes Global
Spain's new digital identity law just hit a wall of encrypted defiance. Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov publicly torched the legislation, calling it a surveillance overreach disguised as child protection.
The Encryption Standoff
At the heart of the fight? A mandate for platforms to verify user ages. Durov argues it forces a backdoor into Telegram's end-to-end encryption—a core promise to its 900 million users. He's not budging. 'We won't comply with laws that violate user privacy,' he stated flatly. For a platform that's become a comms hub for crypto communities and dissidents alike, that's a non-negotiable line in the sand.
Ripple Effects for Tech
This isn't just a Spanish problem. It's a blueprint. Other governments eyeing similar rules are watching this showdown. If Spain enforces penalties—think fines or even blocking the app—it sets a precedent. Tech giants are on notice: adapt your architecture or get locked out of markets. For crypto-native users who prize anonymity, it's a direct threat to how they operate.
The Bigger Picture: Digital Sovereignty
Durov's stance frames this as a fundamental rights battle. It's digital sovereignty versus state control. His argument? Once you build a verification backdoor for 'good' reasons, it gets used for everything else. Meanwhile, regulators see unverified users as a gaping hole for illegal activity. There's no middle ground in sight.
The cynical finance take? Another compliance headache for VCs who bet big on 'web3 social'—turns out building a decentralized future still involves dealing with very centralized governments. Spain's law might just get more traction than its bond auctions.
Final word: This clash is a canary in the coal mine. As digital identity laws proliferate, the tech that refuses to bend will either become outlawed tools or legendary bastions. Telegram just chose its side.
Telegram CEO expresses disapproval of the government’s online age verification plan
Durov still insisted on how the government’s plan for online age verification would significantly harm users. He expanded that, “Pedro Sánchez’s government is pushing harmful new rules that endanger your internet freedoms. These measures were announced just yesterday and could turn Spain into a surveillance state under the excuse of protection.”
Regarding the government’s decision on Telegram, sources noted that Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, argued that it is important for the nation to implement online age verification measures, adopting a similar approach to other European countries, such as the United Kingdom.
Moreover, Sánchez stressed that social media platforms now resemble a “failed state” in which laws are ignored and harmful content spreads during the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Therefore, based on his argument, they must restore control to truly safeguard their children.
Immediately after the Prime Minister made these remarks public, privacy advocates and cypherpunks raised heightened concerns about his argument, noting that such policies restrict free speech and grant governments greater power to censor content for political reasons.
At this moment, an individual with the username Campari weighed in on the matter, stating, “You want to control people who reveal corruption in your government.” Meanwhile, as the situation intensified, tech billionaire Elon Musk also attacked Sánchez, mocking him in his reply.
Additionally, Taylor Lorenz, an American journalist and technology columnist who covers Internet culture, noted that she is certain none of these government efforts is centered on protecting children. Hence, the journalist encouraged global opposition to online age verification laws.
On the other hand, individuals such as the CEO of the layer-1 blockchain Concordium, Boris Bohrer-Bilowitzki, expressed the belief that while it is crucial to implement safeguards against harmful content, particularly for minors, the current age-verification methods are ineffective.
Bohrer-Bilowitzki stresses the key role of blockchain technology on social media platforms
Concerning the age verification approach, Bohrer-Bilowitzki argued that such measures force users to look for ways to bypass restrictions by using virtual private networks (VPNs), which hide their IP addresses and data by routing their device’s internet traffic via a secure, encrypted “tunnel” to a private server.
Therefore, to avoid a similar incident, the CEO proposed that the government consider using blockchain technology to securely verify identities while maintaining user privacy.
In the meantime, Sánchez affirmed that they will start implementing the suggested laws on social media platforms next week. He further mentioned that the online age verification plan is part of a broader effort to mitigate disinformation across various social media platforms from algorithmic manipulation and amplification. To demonstrate the seriousness of the situation, the prime minister declared an investigation into Musk’s Grok, Instagram, and TikTok.
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