Telegram Chief Durov Warns EU Age App Can Be Breached in “Minutes”

Pavel Durov has warned that the European Union’s new age-verification app
could evolve into a broader system for online identity tracking, as questions
continue over its security design and long-term use.

Singapore
Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don’t!).

The warning adds to tensions between Telegram and European authorities. Durov
has previously faced scrutiny in France over platform compliance and
moderation. The situation reflects ongoing regulatory pressure on Telegram
across Europe around content oversight and cooperation with authorities.

Telegram Chief Flags EU Verification Risk

In a post on X, Durov cited findings by security consultant Paul Moore,
who said the EU’s age-verification app could be bypassed within minutes. The
claim raised concerns over how user authentication is linked to identity data.

The European Commission said the system is ready for rollout. First
introduced in July 2025, it is designed to verify whether users are over 18
without exposing personal data. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
described it as “completely anonymous.”

The “age verification app” the EU wants to impose on the world got hacked in 2 minutes.Step 1: Present a “privacy-respecting” but hackable solution.Step 2: Get hacked (you are here).Step 3: Remove privacy to “fix” it.Result: a surveillance tool sold as “privacy-respecting”.

— Pavel Durov (@durov) April 17, 2026

Durov rejected that view, calling the system “hackable by design” and
warning it could later be expanded into broader identity verification across
online platforms.

Russian Officials
React to Durov Case

Following Durov’s detention in France, the Russian embassy in Paris said
it had taken diplomatic steps to clarify the reasons for his arrest, demanding
consular access and assurances over his rights, while claiming French
authorities had not cooperated. The embassy later said on Telegram that it
remained in contact with Durov’s legal team.

The case drew wider political reaction online, with Elon Musk resharing
an earlier interview of Durov under the hashtag #FreePavel.

Russian officials framed the detention as part of broader concerns over
free speech and governance in Europe. Lawmakers and diplomats, including Andrei
Klishas and Mikhail Ulyanov, criticised the move as a sign of democratic
decline.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said Durov had misjudged
geopolitical realities, arguing he remained viewed through a Russian lens in
Western jurisdictions.

This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.



Source link