Misunderstandings about #Telegram & encryption are already shaping the conversation about Pavel Durov's detention. So, here's a primer.
Telegram is often seen as an "encrypted messenger" but for many users it functions a lot more like an unencrypted social network. 1/
Telegram is often seen as an "encrypted messenger" but for many users it functions a lot more like an unencrypted social network. 1/
2/ Remember, most #Telegram features are not end-to-end-encrypted, e.g.:
No e2e encrypted by default:
❌Regular messages
Never e2ee:
❌ Groups
❌Channels
E2ee only when you opt into:
✅ Secret chats
If you see an❌ this means that Telegram can/could access the contents.
No e2e encrypted by default:
❌Regular messages
Never e2ee:
❌ Groups
❌Channels
E2ee only when you opt into:
✅ Secret chats
If you see an❌ this means that Telegram can/could access the contents.
3/ Absence of end-to-end encryption across much of the platform means #Telegram has the keys & could technically be compelled to moderate & give governments access to that user activity.
The potential for access inevitably draws gov attention to #Telegram & CEO Pavel Durov.
The potential for access inevitably draws gov attention to #Telegram & CEO Pavel Durov.
4/ Because of the large slice of activity on #Telegram that is not & has never been end-to-end encrypted, Pavel's detention is clearly alarming many Telegram users left wondering about the privacy of what they have said in the past & who might be able to access it.
5/ In any conversation about #Telegram * encryption, it is also worth nothing longstanding concerns expressed by cryptographers around the in-house designed encryption.
@matthew_d_green has a nice post👇
h/t @evacide
@matthew_d_green has a nice post👇
h/t @evacide
https://x.com/matthew_d_green/status/1827784478674051090
6/ Recap: much still unknown about what France wants from Pavel Durov's unprecedented detention.
In the meantime, it is key to understand which content on #Telegram...can be accessed by Telegram... and which has been protected, in theory, even from Telegram, with e2ee.
Because that frames what a state could potentially ask Telegram to do (e.g. 'supply us these chats' ... 'you should moderate in this way' etc.), or the asks they might have been making.
In the meantime, it is key to understand which content on #Telegram...can be accessed by Telegram... and which has been protected, in theory, even from Telegram, with e2ee.
Because that frames what a state could potentially ask Telegram to do (e.g. 'supply us these chats' ... 'you should moderate in this way' etc.), or the asks they might have been making.
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