Moscow, Russia – Pavel Durov, founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, said that Indian authorities are punishing more than 150 million ordinary users after their decision to temporarily ban the app within the country.
This move has sparked widespread debate about freedom of access to digital platforms.
A direct accusation against the Indian authorities
Durov explained in comments reported by Reuters that the ban is not targeting
organized crime as much as it is negatively impacting ordinary users.
He also emphasized that the decision “punishes” a vast audience of over 150 million people who use the app daily in India.
He added that shutting down the platform has not achieved the desired results,
as the leaks and illicit content have simply “moved to other apps,” he said.
The consequences of the ban on users
The Indian decision comes at a time when large segments of users rely on Telegram for daily communication. Therefore,
the decision has raised concerns about the impact of the ban on freedom of expression and ease of access to information.
Observers believe that such measures may push users to seek less censored digital alternatives,
which could complicate rather than resolve content regulation efforts.
Background to the decision and the exam crisis
According to Indian authorities, the ban was imposed due to the app’s use in activities
related to fraud attempts targeting candidates taking medical school entrance exams.
Additionally, leaks previously led to the cancellation of millions of results.
The government says the measure aims to curb the misuse of digital
platforms in matters that compromise the integrity of public examinations.
