Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticized the EU's media restrictions, believing that Russian users have greater access to information than European users.
He also criticized Apple's review process for slowing down the updates of the Telegram app, attacking the Cupertino-based company again after criticizing Apple's review process in 2022.
Russians can access files through Telegram
Pavel Durov criticized the EU's media restrictions. He pointed out that Russian users enjoy greater freedom than European users.
In an article on X, Durov stated: "According to the DSA/sanctions law, the EU has restricted access to certain Russian media. Meanwhile, all Western media's Telegram channels are still freely accessible in Russia."
"Who would have thought that by 2025, Russian Telegram users would enjoy more freedom than European users?" he added.
Durov's remarks reflect growing concerns about the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) and the sanctions taken to curb misinformation and block Russian state channels.
Impact of the EU's Direct Assistance Assistance (DSA)
Although the EU believes these measures are crucial for maintaining the integrity of information, critics, including Durov, believe that these measures could undermine the principles of freedom of speech.
The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) affects media access by imposing strict regulations on digital platforms to curb false information and illegal content.
This could lead to the EU censoring or restricting access to certain newspapers or media, especially those that spread false information.
Under the new law, some Russian media cannot be read in the EU. However, as Durov pointed out, Telegram has few content restrictions and continues to allow Western media channels to operate freely in Russia.
Issues with Apple's Review Process
In addition to discussing regulatory differences, Durov also noted that the latest updates for Telegram were delayed due to Apple's app review process.
"We planned to launch an epic update on New Year's Eve, offering a unique gift to our users. Unfortunately, it has been stuck in Apple's review process for several days, and we still have not received their response," he posted on X.
Durov criticized Apple in 2022, and he encountered the same issue again for the same reason. Subsequently, he claimed that his app update had been stuck for two weeks without any explanation or feedback.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the "vague" review process implemented by tech giants on all mobile apps. Durov pointed out that if Telegram, one of the top ten global apps, experiences delays, smaller developers might face more challenges, leading to significant financial losses.
He also noted that Apple and Google charge developers a 30% commission, which is used to pay for the costs of the review process.
