Investigation by investigative journalism outlet IStories (EN version by OCCRP) shows that Telegram uses a single, FSB-linked company as their infrastructure provider globally.
Telegram’s MTProto protocol also requires a cleartext identifier to be prepended to all client-server messages.
Combined, these two choices by Telegram make it into a surveillance tool.
I am quoted in the IStories story. I also did packet captures, and I dive into the nitty-gritty technical details on my blog.
Packet captures and MTProto deobfuscation library I wrote linked therein so that others can retrace my steps and check my work.
I can only hope neoliberalism dies as soon as possible, it brought us to this sorry moment in time.
That would be a first for Russia to actually follow through on and complete anything of consequence, really. Would love to see it.
I don’t “dislike this point”, I have exactly zero emotions about it. I said it “might” be a red herring. It might not. I don’t have a formed opinion on it as I simply don’t know much about it. It might also be a reaction to Durov now cooperating also with “Western” law enforcement, for example. Who knows.
It does not change anything in the story.
You seem to be under the impression that anyone who has a problem with the Russian authoritarianism and imperialism must necessarily be a supporter of USA’s authoritarianism and imperialism. I can assure you a lot of people in the world are able to walk and chew gum. And that imperialism’s reach is not measured solely in imperial units.
That answers all my questions about you, like whether you’re able to provide an answer in good faith. It seems your issue is that I understood your clear subtext. I’m sure you’re not worried about a country with telecom and botnet rivals to the USA producing anything of consequence, why would you write about anything of consequence?