Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Slams WhatsApp as ‘Giant Fraud’ Over Encryption Practices, Reignites Privacy Debate on X
Pavel Durov has criticised WhatsApp over its encryption practices, calling the platform a “giant fraud” in a post on X. Durov referenced a Texas lawsuit alleging WhatsApp employees can access private messages despite end-to-end encryption claims. The remarks intensified the Telegram-WhatsApp rivalry.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has strongly criticised WhatsApp’s encryption, describing it as a “giant fraud” in a post on X on 23 May 2026. Durov highlighted a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas against WhatsApp, alleging that employees have access to “virtually all” private messages despite claims of end-to-end encryption. He referenced a past statement by WhatsApp’s founder about selling users’ privacy. The remarks have intensified the ongoing rivalry between Telegram and WhatsApp, with many users debating privacy standards across messaging platforms. The Texas case has drawn significant attention to how major apps handle user data and encryption promises. Durov used the opportunity to promote Telegram’s approach to privacy and security. Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Blames Russian VPN Crackdown for Major Payment System Failures.
WhatsApp Encryption Is 'Giant Fraud': Pavel Durov
(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, fact checks and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post contains publicly available embedded media, directly from the user's social media account and the views appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY.)