A Russian court on Friday ruled that the popular messaging app, telegram, was blocked after the company refused to share encryption data with authorities.
A Moscow court ruled in favor of the Russian service of communication, which demanded that the telegram will be blocked in Russia until he can hand over the encryption keys.
The ban comes after a protracted dispute between the telegram and the Russian authorities, who insist that they must have access to the encryption keys for the investigation of serious crimes, including terrorist acts. Telegram is perhaps the first widely popular means of communications in Russia, which was officially banned.
Telegram, which was developed by the Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov claims that the Russian secret service FSB violates the rights of the consumer, while the authorities claim that the app has been used by extremists.
Durov asked his lawyers not to participate in the Friday court hearing because he said he saw the verdict a foregone conclusion.
Pavel Chikov, one of the telegrams, the lawyers said in a post on his telegram channel that the company will never retreat in the face of Russian intelligence, as in the hearing, which lasted about 20 minutes, showed that the case against the telegram is politically motivated.
“It is impossible to make any concessions or accept any agreement in this situation,” he said.
Press Secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose team uses a telegram to brief journalists, said Friday that it has no place in the Kremlin to comment on judicial decisions.
The telegram was still available on Friday Afternoon in Russia, a few hours after the court decision.
Durov social network on Friday a telegram to Russia not to delete the app and download updates, promising that the latest version will have a “built-in” functions that will be able to circumvent the ban.
“Privacy is not for sale and human rights should not be compromised out of fear or greed”, he said.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
