Government's Right to Know

When does a government have a 'right to know'?

That's the question I am pondering after the arrest of the founder of messaging app Telegram.

Pavel Durov was detained when entering France accused of serious charges related to abetting terrorism, fraud, money laundering, and crimes against children, all of it stemming from a near-total lack of moderation on Telegram.

Pavel has previously said that he has refused to provide government agencies with backdoor access to the app, which naturally made him a target.

I don't use Telegram and am inherently suspicious of the privacy claims attached to any technology. My presumption is that everything we do and say online can be accessed by a company or government agency.

In that respect, I don't believe we have digital privacy at all.

That may not be accurate, but it's how I approach my online communications.

Apps like Telegram promised user privacy, and an estimated 800 million users flocked to the platform, using it for calls, messaging, and community chats.

Unsurprisingly, some people would use the app for illegal activities.

According to the French authorities, Telegram has become the go-to app for organised crime.