Russia Labels Telegram Founder Durov 'Terrorist' Over Refusal to Censor Platform

Russian authorities have reportedly designated Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, as a 'terrorist'. This drastic measure comes after Durov refused to comply with Moscow's demands for mass surveillance and censorship of content on the platform.

Durov himself disclosed the designation on Thursday, stating that Russian authorities had added him to a database of individuals involved in extremist activities. The move appears to be a direct response to Telegram's consistent stance against cooperating with state requests that compromise user privacy and security.

The platform has been a subject of contention with various governments seeking access to user data and communication logs. Russia's designation of Durov marks a significant escalation in the ongoing standoff between the Kremlin and the encrypted messaging service, highlighting the deep disagreements over data access and platform governance.

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Russian authorities had designated him a 'terrorist' after he refused to comply with Moscow's demands for mass surveillance and...