Durov Alleges Disinformation Campaign Against Telegram as Russia Prepares to Launch State Messaging App Max

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has suggested that there may be a deliberate disinformation initiative aimed at damaging the reputation of the widely-used messaging app. He highlighted what he sees as a series of misleading articles and online assaults targeting Telegram.

This pronouncement comes as Russia is set to introduce its own state-sponsored messaging service named Max, perceived as part of a larger governmental strategy to gain control over digital communications.

In a message posted to his official Telegram channel on Tuesday, Durov detailed several recent occurrences that he believes illustrate efforts to tarnish the platform’s image.

One instance included a satirical piece that falsely alleged Telegram’s withdrawal from the Russian market. Initially conceived as humor, Durov noted that the article was quickly misinterpreted and spread as factual by numerous media outlets.

«We had to append a note of clarification beneath such posts within Telegram channels,» he remarked.

Durov also responded to claims that Telegram had intentionally blocked Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) channels, which have been crucial in tracking Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Although several channels were momentarily suspended, he explained that these actions were automatically triggered by moderation systems after the channels disclosed personal information. Durov indicated that while the affected channels were promptly restored, media reports often overlooked this reality.

A third example cited by Durov involved what he described as a «technically uninformed» inquiry into supposed flaws in Telegram’s management of IP addresses, a claim he asserted has been «consistently disproven by independent experts.»

«For over a decade, Telegram has upheld individuals’ rights to privacy and open access to information, which is why we often find ourselves facing media scrutiny from various angles,» Durov wrote. «It’s plausible that these incidents are not merely innocent journalistic errors but rather a coordinated effort to undermine Telegram.»

Telegram has consistently faced criticism regarding its moderation practices, security protocols, and its ambiguous relationship with governments, especially in Russia.

Despite Durov’s long-standing public stance against censorship and surveillance, the platform has been accused of being excessively compliant with Russian authorities. Durov has refuted any claims of collaboration with the FSB or other governmental bodies.

The St. Petersburg-born founder of Telegram was detained in Paris last year over allegations of failing to mitigate extremist and terrorist content on the platform. He was subsequently released on bail.

Last week, Sergei Boyarsky, chairman of the State Duma’s Information Policy Committee, cautioned that Telegram and WhatsApp may soon encounter stricter penalties for allegedly breaching Russian law, particularly in light of the forthcoming launch of Max, the state-endorsed messenger.

Among the issues he raised were Telegram’s lack of localization for user data within Russia and its inconsistent removal of prohibited content.