Russian court orders to block Telegram for refusing to violate users' privacy - Internet Sans Frontières

Paris, April 13, 2018: Internet Without Borders strongly condemns the order by a Russian court to block the messaging app Telegram, in the country.

After months of battles between Telegram and Roskomnadzor, Russia’s telecommunications watchdog, a Russian court has ordered the blocking of the messaging application in the country. This ban is meant to blackmail Telegram into providing the encryption keys of its users to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). The government’s decision is part of Russia’s implementation of strict anti-terrorism laws adopted in 2016. They require messaging services to provide authorities with the ability to decrypt messages

“It is unfair that Telegram is now being punished for upholding the right to privacy of its users. Private actors are increasingly pressured by governments to violate this right, Telegram needs our support during this time of adversity”, said Julie Owono, the executive director of Internet Without Borders.

“The initiative to ban Telegram by the authorities fits perfectly with the logic of other liberticidal initiatives in Russia in the field of media control. As Telegram’s channels have become a major platform for free expression in Russia, an important phenomenon of public debate, it seems that the authorities are obliged to appear to react in this way. The counterterrorism argument is to be taken with caution” said Anastasia Kirilenko, Russian journalist and Russian affairs’ leader at Internet Without Borders

Internet Without Borders reminds that the right to privacy on the Internet must be protected by the courts, against any disproportionate infringement, in particular, that emanating from public authorities. Internet Sans Frontières welcomes Telegram’s decision to resist an injurious injunction to rights and freedoms online.

For more information:

Julie Owono, Executive Director 
06 37 72 69 83
julie@internetsansfrontieres. org

Anastasia Kirilenko, Russian journalist and Russian affairs’ leader at Internet Without Borders