Russia's state communication watchdog on Friday revealed that it has filed a lawsuit to limit access to popular encrypted messaging app Telegram for refusing to comply and grant Russian state security access to users conversation.
According to Russia's FSB Federal Security service, they had demanded access to some messages on the messaging platform so as to help facilitate its work against threats... one of which includes terrorist attacks. Telegram has however refused to comply with the demands.
Telegram which is strongly known for taking users privacy serious recently reached an active user base of 200 million in March. The messaging app is ranked as the ninth most popular mobile messaging app in the world and has a very strong presence in the Middle East and across Russia.
The messaging platform provides encryption for messages sent between users and can not be read by third parties, including government authorities and other agencies.
Russia has been batteling Telegram for a while to allow it to access encrypted data but maker of the messaging platform won't bow to it because it violates its user privacy policy.
The law suit filed by Russia's communication watchdog, according to them was conneted to statements by the FSB that said Telegram wasn't complying with its legal obligation as an "organiser of information distribution."
A spokesman for Telegram did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, its seems very unlikely that telegram will bow to the demands. Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov made it clear on Twitter in March when he said "Threats to block Telegram unless it gives up private data of its users will not bear fruit. Telegram will stand for freedom and privacy."