Telegram messenger founder Pavel Durov has criticized the UK government’s decision to ban children under 16 from accessing social networks. The law on this is scheduled to be adopted by the end of 2026, and will enter into force by the spring of next year.
According to the businessman, the ban would expose children to “greater danger.” Teenagers will use VPNs “and therefore have access to more dangerous and illegal content.”
Durov claims that a similar situation happened with Russian teenagers when Russian authorities banned the Telegram app. Messenger users, including children, have turned to VPNs.
According to the businessman, parents already have tools to limit their children’s digital habits. For example, parental controls and screen time limits.
“Instead, many parents give iPads to their children just to keep them quiet. No government regulation will correct this,” Durov added.
He also doubted that the state wanted to protect children in this way, and not persecute its citizens for their political publications.
In Europe, censorship on social networks is constantly being tightened. Earlier, Pavel Durov criticized similar measures scheduled to be taken in Spain. The public spat highlights growing tensions between European governments and the world’s powerful technology and social media leaders.
In addition, Durov himself is under investigation in France. He was accused of complicity in crimes committed by other people using the Telegram messenger, including fraud, money laundering and the distribution of child pornography and drugs – and that Telegram ignored requests from French police. Durov describes these accusations as ridiculous.