Telegram Founder Sounds Alarm: The Free Internet Is Disappearing
The internet that once symbolized freedom is slowly turning into an instrument of control - at least that’s the warning from Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who marked his 41st birthday with a bleak message about the state of online liberty.
“Our generation is running out of time to save the free internet built for us by our fathers,” Durov wrote on X, accusing governments of quietly building a surveillance state behind the façade of safety and regulation.
The Global Shift Toward Control
Durov’s post comes amid growing efforts by Western governments to expand digital oversight. In Europe, lawmakers are debating the controversial Chat Control bill, which would require platforms like Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp to scan private messages before encryption. Critics say the proposal destroys the concept of privacy itself.
Opposition from Germany’s ruling party may stall the bill for now, but experts like Signal president Meredith Whittaker warn the fight is far from over. “These so-called safety laws create backdoors that hackers and authoritarian regimes will exploit,” she said.
Digital Identity and Data Collection
The UK’s digital ID program, proposed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, would require citizens to verify their identity to access services or employment. Supporters argue it streamlines bureaucracy; privacy advocates call it a gateway to constant tracking. Over 2.8 million people have signed a petition against the plan, forcing lawmakers to revisit the issue.
Meanwhile, Australia is introducing age verification for social media to restrict users under 16. Officials claim the system will protect minors, but critics see yet another attempt to normalize digital surveillance and data harvesting.
A Broader Warning
Durov believes these developments mark the decline of the free web and the rise of state-controlled information. “Once-free countries are adopting dystopian measures,” he said. “We risk being remembered as the last generation that had freedom – and let it be taken away.”
His warning resonates across the crypto and privacy-tech world, where encryption and decentralization remain core principles. Bitcoin, built as an antidote to centralized power, reflects the very ideals Durov says are now under threat.
As privacy erodes behind legislation and fear, his message stands as both a prediction and a plea: defend the open internet now, or lose it forever.
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Krasimir Rusev is a journalist with many years of experience in covering cryptocurrencies and financial markets. He specializes in analysis, news, and forecasts for digital assets, providing readers with in-depth and reliable information on the latest market trends. His expertise and professionalism make him a valuable source of information for investors, traders, and anyone who follows the dynamics of the crypto world.
