The founder and CEO of messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, warns of an impending “dark, dystopian world” as governments around the globe retract privacy protections.
“I’m turning 41, but I don’t feel like celebrating. Our generation is running out of time to protect the free internet established for us by our fathers,” said Durov in a post on X this Thursday.
“Once-free nations are enacting dystopian policies,” Durov stated, highlighting the European Union’s Chat Control proposal, the introduction of digital IDs in the UK, and new Australian rules mandating online age checks for social media access.
“What was once the promise of the free exchange of information is being transformed into the ultimate tool of control.”
“Germany is pursuing anyone who dares to voice dissent against officials online. The UK is jailing thousands for their tweets. France is launching criminal investigations against tech leaders advocating for freedom and privacy.”
“A dark, dystopian future is approaching rapidly — while we remain unaware. Our generation may be remembered as the last to enjoy freedoms that were taken away,” Pavel added.
Privacy protections are fundamental to Bitcoin and the larger cryptocurrency sector. Bitcoin was designed to function pseudonymously, utilizing addresses instead of names, and enabling peer-to-peer transactions without bank interference, among other features.
Germany may have obstructed the EU’s Chat Control
EU lawmakers were scheduled to vote on the Chat Control law next week, which critics argue undermines encrypted messaging and the right to privacy by mandating platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal allow regulators to review messages before encryption and transmission.
However, the legislation suffered a significant setback, with the leader of Germany’s largest political party voicing opposition. Holding 97 seats in the European Parliament, Germany was viewed as pivotal in the law’s fate.
Signal’s president, Meredith Whittaker, stated on Thursday that while Germany’s resistance to the measure is hopeful, she cautions that “the war is not over,” as it now advances to “the European Council, where the debate remains unresolved.”
She also warns that further efforts to implement similar measures allowing content scanning should be resisted as they compromise encryption and create “a perilous backdoor.”
“The technical consensus is clear: you cannot establish a backdoor that only permits ‘good guys’ access. No matter how they are presented, these suggestions create cybersecurity vulnerabilities that hackers and hostile nations are eagerly poised to exploit.”
The UK’s Digital ID raises concerns too
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a digital ID initiative in September, requiring citizens to prove their right to reside and work in the country.
The government promotes the measure as a solution to combat illegal employment, while also streamlining identity verification and access to government services, including licenses, childcare, welfare, and tax.
Critics contend that the initiative raises substantial privacy concerns, as individuals would need to supply personal information for storage in a government application, increasing the risk of misuse.
Related: I funded my lifestyle from Bitcoin, not Telegram: Pavel Durov
Over 2.8 million individuals have already signed a petition opposing the digital ID plan. Petitions that exceed 100,000 signatures must be considered for parliamentary debate.
Australia’s online age verification system raises privacy concerns too
Australia will restrict access to social media platforms for users under 16 starting December 10, and a proposed method for enforcement involves an online age verification system.
Lawmakers argue this initiative will shield minors from harmful online content. Nonetheless, critics share similar privacy concerns as those directed at the UK system, arguing it may lead to government misuse and data storage issues.
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