Telegram CEO criticizes Russian internet restrictions

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov said that internet restrictions in Russia are distancing the country from “digital sovereignty.”

In a statement posted on Telegram, Durov commented on internet restrictions and Russia’s digital sovereignty policy, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

He argued that specialists capable of developing smartphone operating systems are leaving Russia because of ongoing internet-related issues, adding:

“Blocking and restrictions have moved Russia further away from digital sovereignty.”

Durov stressed that unless Russia develops its own smartphone operating system, all applications on mobile devices will remain vulnerable to surveillance and censorship through iOS and Android platforms.

He also noted that locally developed applications built on U.S.-based operating systems cannot solve the problem, saying:

“The packaging of the application changes, but its essence remains the same.”

His remarks came after Russian Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev claimed that Apple had imposed restrictions on Russia’s national messaging application MAX without providing a justification.

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