Telegram founder Pavel Durov has criticized WhatsApp’s security system and called its encryption “a giant fraud.” He made these remarks on Saturday and said users are being misled about message privacy.
In a post on X, Durov claimed that WhatsApp employees can access “virtually all” private messages. He also pointed to a lawsuit filed in Texas against WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta. The case involves allegations of privacy misrepresentation.
Moreover, Durov referred to earlier concerns raised about Meta’s handling of user communications. He noted that WhatsApp promotes end-to-end encryption as a key safety feature. However, he suggested that this claim does not fully reflect how the system works in practice.
In response to public discussion, Durov also highlighted Telegram’s privacy approach. He said Telegram has “never disclosed a single byte of private messages to third parties.” At the same time, he mentioned that he is facing an investigation in France. The case includes multiple charges that could lead to up to 10 years in prison.
Meanwhile, his comments quickly gained attention across tech and political circles. The debate around messaging privacy once again returned to the spotlight.
On the other hand, WhatsApp has consistently defended its encryption system. The company says its end-to-end encryption ensures only the sender and receiver can read messages. It has rejected claims that third parties can access private chats.
